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Purpose: Previous studies using dynamic perfusion CT and volume perfusion CT (VPCT) software consistently underestimated the stress myocardial blood flow (MBF) in normal myocardium to be 1.1-1.4 ml/min/g, whilst the O 15-water PET studies demonstrated the normal stress MBF of 3-5 ml/min/g. We hypothesized that the MBF determined by VPCT (MBF-VPCT) is actually presenting the blood-to-myocardium transfer constant, K1. In this study, we determined K1 using Patlak plot (K1-Patlak) and compared the results with MBF-VPCT., Material and Methods: 17 patients (66 ± 9 years, 7 males) with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent stress dynamic perfusion CT, followed by rest coronary CT angiography (CTA). Arterial input and myocardial output curves were analyzed with Patlak plot to quantify myocardial K1. Significant CAD was defined as >50% stenosis on CTA. A simulation study was also performed to investigate the influence of limited temporal sampling in dynamic CT acquisition on K1 using the undersampling data generated from MRI., Results: There were 3 patients with normal CTA, 7 patients with non-significant CAD, and 7 patients with significant CAD. K1-patlak was 0.98 ± 0.35 (range 0.22-1.67) ml/min/g, whereas MBF-VPCT was 0.83 ± 0.23 (range 0.34-1.40) ml/min/g. There was a linear relationship between them: (MBF-VPCT) = 0.58 x (K1-patlak) + 0.27 (r(2) = 0.65, p < 0.001). The simulation study done on MRI data demonstrated that Patlak plot substantially underestimated true K1 by 41% when true K1 was 2.0 ml/min/g with the temporal sampling of 2RR for arterial input and 4RR for myocardial output functions., Conclusions: The results of our study are generating hypothesis that MBF-VPCT is likely to be calculating K1-patlak equivalent, not MBF. In addition, these values may be substantially underestimated because of limited temporal sampling rate., (Copyright © 2016 Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Topographies promote surface-dependent behaviors which may positively influence peri-implant bone healing. In this study the topological effects of TiO 2 nanotubes (TNTs) on aspects of preosteoblast behavior was investigated. Specifically, we hypothesize that TNTs can influence cell proliferation of preosteoblasts through cell adhesion and related modulation of FAK and RhoA. By culturing MC3T3-E1 cells on TNTs with different diameters (40nm and 150nm diameters), topography-dependent modulation in cell morphology and cell growth were observed. The average spreading area of the cell on Flat Ti, 40nm TNTs and 150nm TNTs were respectively 2176.05 μm 2 , 1510.44 μm 2 and 800.72 μm 2 . Proliferation increased among cells cultured on the 150nm TNTs (28.6%) compared with on Flat Ti (17.06%). The expression of FAK was 86.2% down regulated superimposition of TNTs topography. RhoA expression only slightly decreased (45.9%). Increasing TNT diameter enhanced initial adherent cell growth, which was relevant to the increased RhoA-to-FAK ratio in the cell. Increased TNT diameter was associated with higher ratio and greater proliferation in the first 24 hours. These findings not only support our hypothesis, but suggest that RhoA might be critically involved in TNTs mediated cell proliferation. Future investigation using functional gain and loss of RhoA may further reveal its mechanism.

We have developed an estimated time of arrival (ETA) method as a new single-phase scan for pulmonary artery/vein separation. This method enables differentiation of CT values between arteries and veins by means of two-step consecutive injection of contrast medium based on the pulmonary circulation time. This paper presents an overview of the ETA method and scan technique. Since the ETA method is a single-phase scan, it uses a low radiation dose compared with the conventional multi-phase scan. Moreover, this method eliminates gaps due to breath holding. The ETA method can detect irregularities and obtain high-quality pulmonary artery/vein separation 3D-CT images.

Key Message: A high-quality rice activation tagging population has been developed and screened for drought-tolerant lines using various water stress assays. One drought-tolerant line activated two rice glutamate receptor-like genes. Transgenic overexpression of the rice glutamate receptor-like genes conferred drought tolerance to rice and Arabidopsis. Rice (Oryza sativa) is a multi-billion dollar crop grown in more than one hundred countries, as well as a useful functional genetic tool for trait discovery. We have developed a population of more than 200,000 activation-tagged rice lines for use in forward genetic screens to identify genes that improve drought tolerance and other traits that improve yield and agronomic productivity. The population has an expected coverage of more than 90 % of rice genes. About 80 % of the lines have a single T-DNA insertion locus and this molecular feature simplifies gene identification. One of the lines identified in our screens, AH01486, exhibits improved drought tolerance. The AH01486 T-DNA locus is located in a region with two glutamate receptor-like genes. Constitutive overexpression of either glutamate receptor-like gene significantly enhances the drought tolerance of rice and Arabidopsis, thus revealing a novel function of this important gene family in plant biology.

Rice OsHMA3 is a vacuolar cadmium (Cd) transporter belonging to the P1B-ATPase family and has a long (273aa) C-terminal region. We analyzed the function of the region related to Cd using the transgenic Arabidopsis Col-0 ecotype, which is sensitive to Cd. The OsHMA3 variant containing a truncated (58aa) C-terminal region did not confer Cd tolerance, whereas an OsHMA3 variant containing a longer truncated (105aa) C-terminal region conferred Cd tolerance to transgenic Arabidopsis. We conclude that the C-terminal region, particularly the region containing the first 105aa, has an important role in OsHMA3 activity., (Copyright © 2014 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To determine if model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) can improve visualization of the Adamkiewicz artery on multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) images compared with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and filtered back projection (FBP)., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent for the CT examination was obtained. Thirty-three patients underwent contrast material-enhanced 64-section multi-detector row CT for assessment of aortic aneurysm or dissection. Helical data were reconstructed by using FBP, ASIR, and MBIR. The signal-to-noise ratio of the aorta and contrast-to-noise ratio of the anterior spinal artery relative to the spinal cord were measured on multiplanar reformatted images. Visualization of the Adamkiewicz artery and its continuity with the intercostal or lumbar artery were evaluated by using a four-point scale. All image analyses were performed by two blinded, independent observers. The one-way analysis of variance and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for statistical analysis., Results: MBIR showed significantly better signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios than did ASIR and FBP (P < .05 for all comparisons) with good interobserver agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.93 for signal-to-noise ratio and 0.75 for contrast-to-noise ratio). The visualization score of the Adamkiewicz artery was also significantly better when MBIR was used (3.4 ± 0.8 and 3.6 ± 0.7 for observers A and B, respectively) than when ASIR (2.7 ± 1.1 and 3.0 ± 1.0, respectively) or FBP (2.5 ± 1.2 and 3.1 ± 0.9, respectively) was used., Conclusion: Use of the MBIR algorithm led to improved multi-detector row CT visualization of the Adamkiewicz artery when compared with the use of ASIR and FBP., (© RSNA, 2013.)

A method to immobilize glycan-linked amino acids with protected α-amino groups, which are key intermediates to produce the desired neoglycoprotein, to a Biacore sensor chip was developed and its utility for interaction analyses was demonstrated. Two types of diN-acetyllactosamine (diLacNAc)-containing glycans, a core 2 hexasaccharide involving linear diLacNAc that is O-linked to N-(9-fluorenyl)methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-Thr and a biantennary diLacNAc that is N-linked to Fmoc-Asn, were used as ligands. For immobilization, the free carboxyl groups of the amino acid residues were activated with EDC/NHS, then reacted with the ethylenediamine-derivatized carboxymethyldextran sensor chip to obtain the desired ligand concentrations. Interactions of the ligands with five plant lectins were analyzed by surface plasmon resonance, and the bindings were compared. The resonance unit of each lectin was corrected by subtracting that of the reference cell on which the Fmoc-Thr-core 1 or Fmoc-Asn was immobilized as a ligand. The carbohydrate specificities of interactions were verified by preincubating lectins with their respective inhibitory sugar before injection. By steady state analysis, the Lycopersicon esculentum lectin showed a 27-fold higher affinity to linear diLacNAc than to biantennary diLacNAc, while Datura stramonium and Solanum tuberosum lectins both showed low Ka,apps of 10(6)M(-1) for these two ligands. In contrast, Ricinus communis agglutinin-120 showed a 3.2-fold higher Ka,app to biantennary LacNAc than to linear diLacNAc. A lectin purified from Pleurocybella porrigens mushroom interacted at the high affinity of 10(8)M(-1) with both linear and biantennary diLacNAcs, which identified it as a unique probe. This method provides a useful and sensitive system to analyze interactions by simulating the glycans on the cell surface., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

CpMan5B is a glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 5 enzyme exhibiting both β-1,4-mannosidic and β-1,4-glucosidic cleavage activities. To provide insight into the amino acid residues that contribute to catalysis and substrate specificity, we solved the structure of CpMan5B at 1.6 Å resolution. The structure revealed several active site residues (Y12, N92 and R196) in CpMan5B that are not present in the active sites of other structurally resolved GH5 enzymes. Residue R196 in GH5 enzymes is thought to be strictly conserved as a histidine that participates in an electron relay network with the catalytic glutamates, but we show that an arginine fulfills a functionally equivalent role and is found at this position in every enzyme in subfamily GH5&#95;36, which includes CpMan5B. Residue N92 is required for full enzymatic activity and forms a novel bridge over the active site that is absent in other family 5 structures. Our data also reveal a role of Y12 in establishing the substrate preference for CpMan5B. Using these molecular determinants as a probe allowed us to identify Man5D from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii as a mannanase with minor endo-glucanase activity.

Background: The recently developed model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR) enables significant reduction of image noise and artifacts, compared with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) and filtered back projection (FBP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate lesion detectability of low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) with MBIR in comparison with ASIR and FBP., Methods: Chest CT was acquired with 64-slice CT (Discovery CT750HD) with standard-dose (5.7 ± 2.3 mSv) and low-dose (1.6 ± 0.8 mSv) conditions in 55 patients (aged 72 ± 7 years) who were suspected of lung disease on chest radiograms. Low-dose CT images were reconstructed with MBIR, ASIR 50% and FBP, and standard-dose CT images were reconstructed with FBP, using a reconstructed slice thickness of 0.625 mm. Two observers evaluated the image quality of abnormal lung and mediastinal structures on a 5-point scale (Score 5 = excellent and score 1 = non-diagnostic). The objective image noise was also measured as the standard deviation of CT intensity in the descending aorta., Results: The image quality score of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on low-dose MBIR CT (4.7 ± 0.5) was significantly improved in comparison with low-dose FBP and ASIR CT (3.0 ± 0.5, p = 0.004; 4.0 ± 0.5, p = 0.02, respectively), and was nearly identical to the score of standard-dose FBP image (4.8 ± 0.4, p = 0.66). Concerning decreased lung attenuation (bulla, emphysema, or cyst), the image quality score on low-dose MBIR CT (4.9 ± 0.2) was slightly better compared to low-dose FBP and ASIR CT (4.5 ± 0.6, p = 0.01; 4.6 ± 0.5, p = 0.01, respectively). There were no significant differences in image quality scores of visualization of consolidation or mass, ground-glass attenuation, or reticular opacity among low- and standard-dose CT series. Image noise with low-dose MBIR CT (11.6 ± 1.0 Hounsfield units (HU)) were significantly lower than with low-dose ASIR (21.1 ± 2.6 HU, p < 0.0005), low-dose FBP CT (30.9 ± 3.9 HU, p < 0.0005), and standard-dose FBP CT (16.6 ± 2.3 HU, p < 0.0005)., Conclusion: MBIR shows greater potential than ASIR for providing diagnostically acceptable low-dose CT without compromising image quality. With radiation dose reduction of >70%, MBIR can provide equivalent lesion detectability of standard-dose FBP CT.

Among angiosperms there is a high degree of variation in embryo/endosperm size in mature seeds. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying size control between these neighboring tissues. Here we report the rice GIANT EMBRYO (GE) gene that is essential for controlling the size balance. The function of GE in each tissue is distinct, controlling cell size in the embryo and cell death in the endosperm. GE, which encodes CYP78A13, is predominantly expressed in the interfacing tissues of the both embryo and endosperm. GE expression is under negative feedback regulation; endogenous GE expression is upregulated in ge mutants. In contrast to the loss-of-function mutant with large embryo and small endosperm, GE overexpression causes a small embryo and enlarged endosperm. A complementation analysis coupled with heterofertilization showed that complementation of ge mutation in either embryo or endosperm failed to restore the wild-type embryo/endosperm ratio. Thus, embryo and endosperm interact in determining embryo/endosperm size balance. Among genes associated with embryo/endosperm size, REDUCED EMBRYO genes, whose loss-of-function causes a phenotype opposite to ge, are revealed to regulate endosperm size upstream of GE. To fully understand the embryo-endosperm size control, the genetic network of the related genes should be elucidated., (© 2013 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Trehalose is a non-reducing disaccharide that is used as an osmolyte, transport sugar, carbon reserve and stress protectant in a wide range of organisms. In plants, trehalose 6-phosphate (Tre6P), the intermediate of trehalose biosynthesis, is thought to be a signal of sucrose status. Trehalose itself may play a role in pathogenic and symbiotic plant-microbe interactions, in responses to abiotic stress and in developmental signalling, but its precise functions are unknown. A major obstacle to investigating its function is the technical difficulty of measuring the very low levels of trehalose usually found in plant tissues, as most of the established trehalose assays lack sufficient specificity and/or sensitivity., Results: A kinetic assay for trehalose was established using recombinant Escherichia coli cytoplasmic trehalase (treF), which was shown to be highly specific for trehalose. Hydrolysis of trehalose to glucose is monitored fluorometrically and the trehalose content of the tissue extract is determined from an internal calibration curve. The assay is linear for 0.2-40 pmol trehalose, and recoveries of trehalose were ≥88%. A. thaliana Col-0 rosettes contain about 20-30 nmol g-1FW of trehalose, increasing to about 50-60 nmol g-1FW in plants grown at 8°C. Trehalose is not correlated with sucrose content, whereas a strong correlation between Tre6P and sucrose was confirmed. The trehalose contents of ear inflorescence primordia from the maize ramosa3 mutant and wild type plants were 6.6±2.6 nmol g-1FW and 19.0±12.7 nmol g-1FW, respectively. The trehalose:Tre6P ratios in the ramosa3 and wild-type primordia were 2.43±0.85 and 6.16±3.45, respectively., Conclusion: The fluorometric assay is highly specific for trehalose and sensitive enough to measure the trehalose content of very small amounts of plant tissue. Chilling induced a 2-fold accumulation of trehalose in A. thaliana rosettes, but the levels were too low to make a substantial quantitative contribution to osmoregulation. Trehalose is unlikely to function as a signal of sucrose status. The abnormal inflorescence branching phenotype of the maize ramosa3 mutant might be linked to a decrease in trehalose levels in the inflorescence primordia or a downward shift in the trehalose:Tre6P ratio.

Most of the maize kernel oil is located in the embryo while the majority of starch is located in the endosperm. Maize kernel composition and value are affected significantly by the ratio of the embryo size to the endosperm size; however, the genetic regulation of embryo to endosperm ratio (EER) in maize is unknown. Here we identified ZmGE2 gene, which encodes a cytochrome p450 protein, as a gene associated with EER variation in maize. We first expressed rice Giant Embryo (GE) gene driven by oleosin promoter in maize and detected a 23.2 % reduction in EER in transgenic seeds, demonstrating the existence of evolutionarily conserved mechanisms for EER determination in rice and maize. We next identified maize GE2, a homolog of rice GE sharing 70 % identity in amino sequence, as a candidate based on the similar expression pattern and co-localization with a previously detected QTL for EER. Followed by linkage and association mapping, a 247-bp transposable element (TE) insertion in 3'-untranslated region of ZmGE2 gene was identified to be associated with increase in EER and kernel oil content. Expression level of the favorable ZmGE2 allele containing the 247-bp TE insertion was strongly reduced. In addition, the 247-bp TE insertion site was a selection target during the artificial long-term selection for the high EER trait in a high oil population. This is the first report that demonstrates an association of ZmGE2 with EER variation in maize and identifies ZmGE2 gene as a promising target for manipulation of EER and grain composition by either transgenic approach or molecular breeding in maize.

It is difficult to detect sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) around an injection point of radiopharmaceuticals mapped in lymphoscintigrams. The purpose of this study was to develop a computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme for SLNs by a subtraction technique using the symmetrical property in the mapped injection point. Our database consisted of 78 lymphoscintigrams with 86 SLNs. In our CAD scheme, the mapped injection point of radiopharmaceuticals was first segmented from the lymphoscintigram using a gray-level thresholding technique. Lymphoscintigram was then divided into four regions by vertical and horizontal straight lines through the center of the segmented injection point. One of the four divided regions was defined as the target region. The correlation coefficients based on pixel values were calculated between the target region and each of the other three regions. The region with the highest correlation coefficient among three regions was selected as the similar region to the target region. The values of pixels on the target region were subtracted by the values of the corresponding pixels on the similar region. This procedure was repeated until every divided region had been used as target region. SLNs were segmented by applying a gray-level thresholding technique to the subtracted image. With our CAD scheme, sensitivity and the number of false positives were 95.3% (82/86) and 2.51 per image, respectively. Our CAD scheme achieved a high level of detection accuracy, and would have a great potential in assisting physicians to detect SLNs in lymphoscintigrams.

Widespread soil contamination with heavy metals has fostered the need for plant breeders to develop new crops that do not accumulate heavy metals. Metal-transporting transmembrane proteins that transport heavy metals across the plant plasma membrane are key targets for developing these new crops. Oryza sativa heavy metal ATPase 3 (OsHMA3) is known to be a useful gene for limiting cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice. OsHMA2 is a close homolog of OsHMA3, but the function of OsHMA2 is unknown. To gain insight into the function of OsHMA2, we analyzed three Tos17 insertion mutants. The translocation ratios of zinc (Zn) and Cd were clearly lower in all mutants than in the wild type, suggesting that OsHMA2 is a major transporter of Zn and Cd from roots to shoots. By comparing each allele in the OsHMA2 protein structure and measuring the Cd translocation ratio, we identified the C-terminal region as essential for Cd translocation into shoots. Two alleles were identified as good material for breeding rice that does not contain Cd in the grain but does contain some Zn, and that grows normally.

Objectives: Our purpose was to clarify the situation regarding blood pressure control through awareness of hypertension among female groups of in-home caregivers and non-caregivers., Methods: We used one existing data generated between December 2005 and April 2007. The subjects were females who were suffering from hypertension (66 caregivers were aged 49-84 years; 52 non-caregivers were aged 47-81 years). We defined persons suffering from hypertension on the basis of results of a self-administered questionnaire and blood pressure values. On the question of awareness of hypertension, we defined the persons who replied positively to any one of "I have hypertension," "I have suffered from hypertension," or "I take antihypertensive agents" as belonging to the "awareness group." We categorized the other respondents, who replied to all three questions in the negative as belonging to the "non-awareness group." We used blood pressure values, to build an index of the control with the chi2 test and the t-test for statistical comparisons. Values of P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant., Results: The results showed that blood pressure values of caregivers in both the awareness group and the non-awareness group were high (awareness group vs non-awareness group overall SBP: 148 +/- 20 mmHg vs 154 +/- 9 mmHg, DBP: 79 +/- 13 mmHg vs 82 +/- 10 mmHg, P > 0.05). Furthermore, values were significantly lower for the awareness than non-awareness group with respect to the non-caregivers (SBP: 135 +/- 15 mmHg vs 149 +/- 7 mmHg, DBP: 73 +/- 10 mmHg vs 78 +/- 6 mmHg). Caregivers who took the antihypertensive agent in the awareness group demonstrated high values exceeding SBP 140 mmHg, which was the hypertensive standard value, not different from the values for caregivers not taking such medication. (taking vs non-taking SBP: 148 +/- 21 mmHg vs 149 +/- 8 mmHg)., Conclusion: Among the caregivers, it was not only the members of the non-awareness group but also those of the awareness group who were found to have high blood pressure values. Though the caregivers took antihypertensive agents, their blood pressure values remained high.

Background: In the early stage of eukaryotic DNA replication, the template DNA is unwound by the MCM helicase, which is activated by forming a complex with the Cdc45 and GINS proteins. The eukaryotic GINS forms a heterotetramer, comprising four types of subunits. On the other hand, the archaeal GINS appears to be either a tetramer formed by two types of subunits in a 2:2 ratio (α2β2) or a homotetramer of a single subunit (α4). Due to the low sequence similarity between the archaeal and eukaryotic GINS subunits, the atomic structures of the archaeal GINS complexes are attracting interest for comparisons of their subunit architectures and organization., Results: We determined the crystal structure of the α2β2 GINS tetramer from Thermococcus kodakaraensis (TkoGINS), comprising Gins51 and Gins23, and compared it with the reported human GINS structures. The backbone structure of each subunit and the tetrameric assembly are similar to those of human GINS. However, the location of the C-terminal small domain of Gins51 is remarkably different between the archaeal and human GINS structures. In addition, TkoGINS exhibits different subunit contacts from those in human GINS, as a consequence of the different relative locations and orientations between the domains. Based on the GINS crystal structures, we built a homology model of the putative homotetrameric GINS from Thermoplasma acidophilum (TacGINS). Importantly, we propose that a long insertion loop allows the differential positioning of the C-terminal domains and, as a consequence, exclusively leads to the formation of an asymmetric homotetramer rather than a symmetrical one., Conclusions: The DNA metabolizing proteins from archaea are similar to those from eukaryotes, and the archaeal multi-subunit complexes are occasionally simplified versions of the eukaryotic ones. The overall similarity in the architectures between the archaeal and eukaryotic GINS complexes suggests that the GINS function, directed through interactions with other protein components, is basically conserved. On the other hand, the different subunit contacts, including the locations and contributions of the C-terminal domains to the tetramer formation, imply the possibility that the archaeal and eukaryotic GINS complexes contribute to DNA unwinding reactions by significantly different mechanisms in terms of the atomic details.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between partial electrical reset (PER) and CT scan parameters (tube voltage, tube current, rotation time, and product of tube current and rotation time in mAs). A cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (Insync 8040, Medtronic Inc., Tokyo) and 320 area detector CT scanner (Aquilion ONE, Toshiba medical systems, Otawara, Japan) with volume scan were used. The pacemaker was put in DDD mode. The PERs were interpreted using both the programmer's wave forms and error messages. The exposure was repeated 5 times per CT setting. The pacemaker was placed on the anterior wall and upper side of a chest phantom. Each CT scan was performed using the following parameters: tube voltage of 80, 100, 120, and 135 kV; tube current of 50-550 mA; and rotation time of 0.35-1.5 s. PERs were observed at 100, 120, and 135 kV, and more PERs were observed as the tube voltage increased. The PER tube current decreased as the rotation time was increased. In contrast, the PER tube current and rotation time product (mAs) increased as the rotation time was increased. More specifically, the radiation dose rate was the affected factor of the PERs. To avoid PER of pacemakers, CT scan parameters with lower radiation dose rates (low rather than high tube current and rotational time) is recommended. In conclusion, our results will help with CT scans of patients who have implantable cardiac devices (included pacemakers and cardioverter defibrillators).

• The cadmium (Cd) over-accumulating rice (Oryza sativa) cv Cho-Ko-Koku was previously shown to have an enhanced rate of root-to-shoot Cd translocation. This trait is controlled by a single recessive allele located at qCdT7. • In this study, using positional cloning and transgenic strategies, heavy metal ATPase 3 (OsHMA3) was identified as the gene that controls root-to-shoot Cd translocation rates. The subcellular localization and Cd-transporting activity of the gene products were also investigated. • The allele of OsHMA3 that confers high root-to-shoot Cd translocation rates (OsHMA3mc) encodes a defective P(1B) -ATPase transporter. OsHMA3 fused to green fluorescent protein was localized to vacuolar membranes in plants and yeast. An OsHMA3 transgene complemented Cd sensitivity in a yeast mutant that lacks the ability to transport Cd into vacuoles. By contrast, OsHMA3mc did not complement the Cd sensitivity of this yeast mutant, indicating that the OsHMA3mc transport function was lost. • We propose that the root cell cytoplasm of Cd-overaccumulating rice plants has more Cd available for loading into the xylem as a result of the lack of OsHMA3-mediated transportation of Cd to the vacuoles. This defect results in Cd translocation to the shoots in higher concentrations. These data demonstrate the importance of vacuolar sequestration for Cd accumulation in rice., (© The Authors (2010). Journal compilation © New Phytologist Trust (2010).)

Genome-wide expression signatures detect specific perturbations in developmental programs and contribute to functional resolution of key regulatory networks. In maize (Zea mays) inflorescences, mutations in the RAMOSA (RA) genes affect the determinacy of axillary meristems and thus alter branching patterns, an important agronomic trait. In this work, we developed and tested a framework for analysis of tag-based, digital gene expression profiles using Illumina's high-throughput sequencing technology and the newly assembled B73 maize reference genome. We also used a mutation in the RA3 gene to identify putative expression signatures specific to stem cell fate in axillary meristem determinacy. The RA3 gene encodes a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase and may act at the interface between developmental and metabolic processes. Deep sequencing of digital gene expression libraries, representing three biological replicate ear samples from wild-type and ra3 plants, generated 27 million 20- to 21-nucleotide reads with frequencies spanning 4 orders of magnitude. Unique sequence tags were anchored to 3'-ends of individual transcripts by DpnII and NlaIII digests, which were multiplexed during sequencing. We mapped 86% of nonredundant signature tags to the maize genome, which associated with 37,117 gene models and unannotated regions of expression. In total, 66% of genes were detected by at least nine reads in immature maize ears. We used comparative genomics to leverage existing information from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa) in functional analyses of differentially expressed maize genes. Results from this study provide a basis for the analysis of short-read expression data in maize and resolved specific expression signatures that will help define mechanisms of action for the RA3 gene.

We are interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying plant reactions to the toxic heavy metal cadmium (Cd). To this end, we devised a new screening strategy using agar plates with a gradient of Cd concentrations, termed Cd-gradient agar plates (CGAPs), to isolate Arabidopsis mutants that displayed altered reactions to the metal. Arabidopsis M(2) seeds, derived from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) treated seeds, were germinated on the CGAPs such that the primary root of each seedling elongated against increasing concentrations of Cd on the surface of the plate. Under these conditions, the lengths of the primary roots reliably demonstrated the degree of Cd tolerance of individual seedlings. The use of CGAPs also allowed close observation of the root reaction of each seedling to Cd without causing lethal damage. The screen identified three mutant lines, MRC-32, MRC-22 and MRC-26, which showed distinctly different characteristics. MRC-32 plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to Cd and contained Cd at higher concentrations than wild-type (WT) plants treated with the heavy metal. The whole root system of MRC-22 plants showed a Cd-phobic response. MRC-26 plants accumulated less Cd in their aboveground tissues than WT plants, suggesting that they were defective in transporting the heavy metal from roots to aboveground tissues. We also determined the likely chromosomal location of each mutation.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between radiation doses and lung computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopic scan parameters and to determine optimal scan parameters for performance of lung interventional radiologic (IR) procedures., Materials and Methods: The institutional review board approved this prospective study, which included 32 patients with a single lung tumor; written informed consent was obtained. CT fluoroscopic images were obtained with three tube voltages (80,120,135 kV) and three tube currents (10, 20, 30 mA) in each patient. The signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and the contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were measured quantitatively. To evaluate the feasibility of performing lung IR procedures, four readers visually scored the image quality. Acceptable CT fluoroscopic images were determined by using agreement of at least three of the four readers. The weighted CT dose index for each CT scan parameter was measured. A piecewise linear regression equation was obtained from the relationship between radiation doses and visual image scores., Results: Both the SNR and the CNR improved as the radiation dose increased, leading to improvement in the image quality. Acceptable image quality was achieved in 94% (30 of 32) of patients when the radiation dose was 1.18 mGy/sec (120 kV, 10 mA) and in all patients when it was greater than 1.48 mGy/sec (135 kV, 10 mA). The piecewise linear curve showed rapid improvement in image quality until the radiation dose increased to 1.48 mGy/sec (135 kV, 10 mA). When the radiation dose was increased greater than 1.48 mGy/sec, improvement in the image quality became more gradual., Conclusion: Results of this study can be used to guide the determination of optimal scan parameters in lung CT fluoroscopy., (RSNA, 2010)

The heavy metal cadmium (Cd) is highly toxic to humans and can enter food chains from contaminated crop fields. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of Cd accumulation in crop species will aid production of safe Cd-free food. Here, we identified a single recessive gene that allowed higher Cd translocation in rice, and also determined the chromosomal location of the gene. The Cd hyperaccumulator rice variety Cho-Ko-Koku showed 3.5-fold greater Cd translocation than the no-accumulating variety Akita 63 under hydroponics. Analysis of an F(2) population derived from these cultivars gave a 1:3 segregation ratio for high:low Cd translocation. This indicates that a single recessive gene controls the high Cd translocation phenotype. A QTL analysis identified a single QTL, qCdT7, located on chromosome 7. On a Cd-contaminated field, Cd accumulation in the F(2) population showed continuous variation with considerable transgression. Three QTLs for Cd accumulation were identified and the peak of the most effective QTL mapped to the same region as qCdT7. Our data indicate that Cd translocation mediated by the gene on qCdT7 plays an important role in Cd accumulation on contaminated soil.

For convenience of outpatients, mammographies of outpatients are often taken after the injection of a radionuclide. In this study, we investigated the effects of gamma rays emitted by a patient onto imaging plates (IPs). We used a flat container filled with (99m)Tc solution as a planar source to irradiate gamma rays onto IPs. We changed irradiation times on each IP, and took radiographies of an ACR-specified 156 model phantom and AGH-D210F phantom. We evaluated radiography images, using visual evaluation, and profile curves, histograms, and CNR and RMS granularities analyses. The results indicated that the depiction ability of a fibrous part began to fall when the irradiation time exceeded 3 minutes. With an increase in irradiation time, an increase in pixel value and RMS granularity value and a decrease in CNR value were observed. In conclusion, IP exposed by gamma rays influenced the evaluation of phantom images.

Quality of life (QOL) encompasses a broad notion of health and is increasingly used to evaluate the effectiveness of health care services. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in the community-dwelling elderly (mean age, 72.7±0.3 y; female 46.4%, n=179) in Japan and to explore diminished factors. We assessed HR-QOL by the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), maximum walking speed, step counts, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) index, dietary intake and blood biochemistry. Two summary scores of the SF-36 were calculated (physical component score: PCS, mental component score: MCS). We divided participants into two groups based on the standard values of PCS and MCS classified by age (high and low group), which was further stratified into a high PCS and high MCS (BH) group and a low PCS and low MCS (BL) group. Mean maximum walking speed and daily step counts were 207.7±2.8 cm/s and 7,008±289. Eighty-one percent of the participants had full scores in the TMIG index. Daily intake of energy and protein were 2,081±33 kcal and 74.5±0.9 g. The maximum walking speed, TMIG index, alcohol consumption and chewing ability were significantly higher in the BH group than those in the BL group, but not dietary intake. Stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that maintaining maximum walking speed might be associated with sustaining HR-QOL in the healthy elderly.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the nuclear hormone receptor family, which is defined as transcriptional factors that are activated by the binding of ligands to their ligand-binding domains (LBDs). Although the three PPAR subtypes display different tissue distribution patterns and distinct pharmacological profiles, they all are essentially related to fatty-acid and glucose metabolism. Since the PPARs share similar three-dimensional structures within the LBDs, synthetic ligands which simultaneously activate two or all of the PPARs could be potent candidates in terms of drugs for the treatment of abnormal metabolic homeostasis. The structures of several PPAR LBDs were determined in complex with synthetic ligands, derivatives of 3-(4-alkoxyphenyl)propanoic acid, which exhibit unique agonistic activities. The PPARalpha and PPARgamma LBDs were complexed with the same pan agonist, TIPP-703, which activates all three PPARs and their crystal structures were determined. The two LBD-ligand complex structures revealed how the pan agonist is adapted to the similar, but significantly different, ligand-binding pockets of the PPARs. The structures of the PPARdelta LBD in complex with an alpha/delta-selective ligand, TIPP-401, and with a related delta-specific ligand, TIPP-204, were also determined. The comparison between the two PPARdelta complexes revealed how each ligand exhibits either a ;dual selective' or ;single specific' binding mode.

Most aerial parts of the plant body are products of the continuous activity of the shoot apical meristem (SAM). Leaves are the major component of the aerial plant body, and their temporal and spatial distribution mainly determines shoot architecture. Here we report the identification of the rice gene PLASTOCHRON3 (PLA3)/GOLIATH (GO) that regulates various developmental processes including the rate of leaf initiation (the plastochron). PLA3/GO encodes a glutamate carboxypeptidase, which is thought to catabolize small acidic peptides and produce small signaling molecules. pla3 exhibits similar phenotypes to pla1 and pla2- a shortened plastochron, precocious leaf maturation and rachis branch-to-shoot conversion in the reproductive phase. However, in contrast to pla1 and pla2, pla3 showed pleiotropic phenotypes including enlarged embryo, seed vivipary, defects in SAM maintenance and aberrant leaf morphology. Consistent with these pleiotropic phenotypes, PLA3 is expressed in the whole plant body, and is involved in plant hormone homeostasis. Double mutant analysis revealed that PLA1, PLA2 and PLA3 are regulated independently but function redundantly. Our results suggest that PLA3 modulates various signaling pathways associated with a number of developmental processes.

Numerous genes are involved in the regulation of plant development, including those that regulate floral homeotic genes, We identified two recessive allelic rice mutants, open beak-1 (opb-1) and opb-2, which exhibited pleiotropic defects in leaf morphogenesis, inflorescence architecture, and floral organ identity. Abnormal cell proliferation was observed in the leaves and spikelets, and ectopic or overexpression of several class 1 knox genes was detected; thus, the abnormal cell proliferation in opb mutants is probably caused by ectopic class 1 knox gene expression. The opb mutants also had defects in floral organ identity, resulting in the development of mosaic organs, including gluminous lodicules, staminoid lodicules, and pistiloid stamens. These results, together with the reduced expression of a class B gene, indicate that OPB positively regulates the expression of class B genes. Map-based cloning revealed that OPB encodes a transcription factor that is orthologous to the Arabidopsis JAGGED gene and is expressed in leaf primordia, inflorescence meristem, rachis branch meristems, floral meristem, and floral organ primordia. Taken together, our data suggest that the OPB gene affects cellular proliferation and floral organ identity through the regulation of class 1 knox genes and floral homeotic genes.

Purpose: The three-dimensional stereotactic region of interest template (3DSRT) is computer software, which enables the automatic measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). This study was undertaken to compare the rCBF values obtained using the 3DSRT method and the conventional manual tracing method., Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with normal brains who underwent technetium-99m L,L-ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography studies were enrolled in this study. The brains were divided into 12 segments in each hemisphere, and rCBF was measured in each segment. The regions of interest were automatically placed in the segments in the 3DSRT method and were manually traced by five nuclear medicine technicians in the manual tracing method. The rCBF values obtained were compared between the two methods. Interoperator reliability was evaluated in the manual tracing method., Results: The rCBF values were significantly higher in the manual tracing method than in the 3DSRT method in all segments except for the angular segment. A good correlation was seen between the two methods in the rCBF values in 10 (83.3%) of the 12 brain segments (range of coefficient of determinations: 0.73-0.94). A poor correlation, however, was seen in the pericallosal (0.50) and hippocampal (0.53) segments. Interoperator reliability was lower in these two segments than in the other segments in the manual tracing method., Conclusion: Although the rCBF values obtained using the manual tracing method and the 3DSRT method show good correlation in most segments, care is required when comparing the results for the pericallosal and hippocampal segments.

This paper presents the adsorption of humic acid from aqueous solution onto crosslinked chitosan derivative (carboxymethylchitosan), formed by additionless irradiation technique. The surface charge and swelling properties of crosslinked samples were investigated. The adsorption of humic acid onto crosslinked carboxymethylchitosan was carried out by the batch method at room temperature, and it was found to be strongly pH-dependent. Maximum amount of humic acid was adsorbed under acidic conditions at the optimum pH value of 3.5. Adsorption kinetic studies indicated the adsorption process was transport-limited at the same pH. The adsorption isotherm analysis data under various initial humic acid concentrations confirms that experimental data fitted well into the Langmuir equation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that the amino groups of carboxymethylated chitosan were protonated, suggesting the formation of organic complex between the protonated amino groups and humic acid. From these preliminary evaluations, it was concluded that crosslinked carboxymethylated chitosan derivatives have a great potential in water treatment for the removal of humic acid and other polarized or electrically charged species.

The effects of gamma-ray irradiation on aqueous solutions of chub mackerel chromatin, salmon milt DNA with CoCl(2), mixtures of DNA with Type A gelatin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), CM-chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and Catinal (hydroxyethyl-cellulose, O-[2-hydroxy-3-(trimethyl ammonio)-propyl], chloride) and DNA in the presence of polyfunctional monomers with the aim to insolubilize DNA for preparing a novel carcinogen adsorbent have been studied. Among those, precipitates or inhomogeneous gel consisting of cross-linked DNA were prepared from the samples of aqueous DNA in the presence of CoCl(2) at low irradiation dose, around 10 Gy, and bulk homogeneous gels were successfully prepared from aqueous mixtures of DNA with gelatin, BSA, CMC and Catinal in a limited range of irradiation doses. Gel fraction and swelling ratio of the gels were measured. Adsorption of a carcinogen, acridine orange, was also examined for the gels. From the experimental results, the optimum conditions for preparing insolubilized homogeneous DNA gels were determined.

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is a group of stem cells that are responsible for plant development. Mutations in rice SHOOTLESS2 (SHL2), SHL4/SHOOT ORGANIZATION2 (SHO2), and SHO1 cause complete deletion or abnormal formation of the SAM. In this study we showed that defects in SAM formation in shl mutants are associated with the loss of expression of the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIPIII) family genes. Rice SHL2, SHL4/SHO2, and SHO1 encoded orthologues of Arabidopsis RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6, ARGONAUTE (AGO) 7, and DICER-like 4, respectively, whose mutations affect leaf development through the trans-acting siRNA (ta-siRNA) pathway. This suggested that the ta-siRNA pathway regulates the critical step of SAM formation during rice embryogenesis. The gain-of-function experiment by the ectopic expression of SHL4 resulted in reduced accumulation of an microRNA, miR166, and partial adaxialization of leaves, supporting a role for the ta-siRNA pathway in the maintenance of leaf polarity as previously reported in maize. Analysis of the spatiotemporal expression patterns of HD-ZIPIII and miR166 in wild-type and shl mutant embryos suggested that the loss of HD-ZIPIII expression in the SAM region of the developing embryo is the result of ectopic expression of miR166. Our analysis of shl mutants demonstrated that HD-ZIPIII expression regulated by miR166 is sensitive to the ta-siRNA pathway during SAM formation in rice embryogenesis.

Inflorescence architecture is one of the most important agronomical traits. Characterization of rice aberrant panicle organization 1 (apo1) mutants revealed that APO1 positively controls spikelet number by suppressing the precocious conversion of inflorescence meristems to spikelet meristems. In addition, APO1 is associated with the regulation of the plastchron, floral organ identity, and floral determinacy. Phenotypic analyses of apo1 and floral homeotic double mutants demonstrate that APO1 positively regulates class-C floral homeotic genes, but not class-B genes. Molecular studies revealed that APO1 encodes an F-box protein, an ortholog of Arabidopsis UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGAN (UFO), which is a positive regulator of class-B genes. Overexpression of APO1 caused an increase in inflorescence branches and spikelets. As the mutant inflorescences and flowers differed considerably between apo1 and ufo, the functions of APO1 and UFO appear to have diverged during evolution.

A novel method was developed for the preparation of highly efficient anion- and cation-exchange microHPLC columns using an on-column polymerization of methacrylates having amine or sulfonic acid functional groups onto monolithic silica capillary columns modified with 3-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane as the anchor groups. The chromatographic evaluation of the columns using nucleic acids, nucleotides, and inorganic anions as samples showed the characteristics of the ion-exchange-type stationary phases. These columns exhibited higher separation efficiency when compared with the conventional particle-packed columns. A capillary column for the simultaneous anion- and cation-exchange separation could be prepared by a step-by-step functionalization. The advantages of this column preparation will include: (1) no need of column packing; (2) no need of the preparation of silane reagents possessing anion- and cation-exchange functionalities; (3) the amount of immobilized polymer could be controlled by changing polymerization conditions. These columns should be suitable for the separation of biologically active compounds by the microHPLC modes.

Inflorescence branching is a major yield trait in crop plants controlled by the developmental fate of axillary shoot meristems. Variations in branching patterns lead to diversity in flower-bearing architectures (inflorescences) and affect crop yield by influencing seed number or harvesting ability. Several growth regulators such as auxins, cytokinins and carotenoid derivatives regulate branching architectures. Inflorescence branching in maize is regulated by three RAMOSA genes. Here we show that one of these genes, RAMOSA3 (RA3), encodes a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase expressed in discrete domains subtending axillary inflorescence meristems. Genetic and molecular data indicate that RA3 functions through the predicted transcriptional regulator RAMOSA1 (RA1). We propose that RA3 regulates inflorescence branching by modification of a sugar signal that moves into axillary meristems. Alternatively, the fact that RA3 acts upstream of RA1 supports a hypothesis that RA3 itself may have a transcriptional regulatory function.

Background: Few epidemiologic studies have examined the association between the rate of eating and obesity. In this study, we cross-sectionally examined the association of the self-reported rate of eating with current Body Mass Index (BMI), and BMI-change from 20 years of age to the current age., Methods: Subjects were 3737 male (mean age +/- standard deviation and mean BMI +/- standard deviation: 48.2 +/- 7.1 years and 23.3 +/- 2.7 kg/m(2)) and 1005 female (46.3 +/- 7.0 years and 21.8 +/- 2.8 kg/m(2)) Japanese civil servants. We measured self-reported categorical rate of eating, current BMI, BMI at age 20, and BMI-change from age 20. Energy intake was assessed over a 1-month period with a brief-type diet history questionnaire., Results: The multiple regression analysis in which the current BMI was regressed by categorical rate of eating, energy intake, age, and lifestyle factors showed that current BMI steadily increased by -0.99, -0.67, 0.81, and 1.47 kg/m(2) along with the progress of categorical rate of eating from the 'medium' group to 'very slow', 'relatively slow', 'relatively fast', and 'very fast' groups, respectively, in men. In women, the corresponding values were -1.06, -0.35, 0.50, and 1.34 kg/m(2). When the BMI increment from age 20 to current age was regressed in the same manner, the increment was -0.63, -0.34, 0.57, and 1.05 kg/m(2) in men and -0.71, -0.32, 0.34, and 1.14 kg/m(2) in women, respectively. Additionally, both BMI at age 20 and current height were positively associated with rate of eating., Conclusions: Our results among middle-aged men and women suggest that eating fast would lead to obesity.

We have already found that a single silver (I) cation specifically binds to a single C:C mismatch base pair in heteroduplex, which increases the melting temperature (T(m)) of heteroduplex involving a single C:C mismatch base pair by about 4 degrees C. Here, to examine the properties of the interaction between two C:C mismatch base pairs and silver (I) cations, we analyzed the effect of silver (I) cations on the thermal stability of heteroduplexes involving two C:C mismatch base pairs. The positions of the two C:C mismatch base pairs in heteroduplex did not significantly affect the magnitude of the increase in T(m) upon addition of silver (I) cation, suggesting that the binding affinity of the first silver (I) cation with one of the two C:C mismatch base pairs and that of the second silver (I) cation with the other of the two mismatch base pairs may be independent of the positions of the two mismatch base pairs. The larger magnitude of the increase in T(m) for the second silver (I) cation binding than that observed for the first silver (I) cation binding suggests that the binding affinity for the second silver (I) cation may be significantly higher than that for the first silver (I) cation. Our results certainly support the idea that addition of the metal cation is a promising strategy for the mismatch base pair detection in the heteroduplex analysis and may eventually lead to progress in SNP genotyping.

Background: Leptin's hematopoietic or proinflammatory role has been experimentally reported. We investigated whether serum leptin concentrations are associated with white blood cell (WBC) counts in humans., Methods: Serum leptin concentrations of Japanese civil servants aged 40 to 59 years (1082 men and 200 women) were analyzed in relation to their WBC count. Serum leptin concentrations and WBC counts were measured by radioimmunoassay and automated particle counter respectively, using samples obtained at the time of the participants' annual health checkups., Results: The geometric mean (+/-geometric standard deviation) leptin concentrations were 3.25 +/- 1.82 ng/mL and 6.25 +/- 3.99 ng/mL, and the geometric mean WBC counts, 5770 +/- 1269/mm(3) and 5107 +/- 1228/mm(3), in men and women respectively. The WBC count adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and drinking and smoking habits increased together with the increase in leptin concentration. Multiple linear regression against WBC count by the leptin concentration and those covariates revealed a significant and independent association with serum leptin concentration especially in women (standardized beta = 0.31, p < 0.001), and also in men (standardized beta = 0.17, p < 0.001). BMI was not significantly associated with WBC counts in the multivariate model adjusting for leptin levels in both sexes., Conclusions: Our results are in line with leptin's hematopoietic or proinflammatory functions. The increased WBC counts often observed in obese people would be mediated by the increased leptin concentration., (Copyright 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objective: To assess the validity of self-reported height and weight in a Japanese workplace population, and to examine factors associated with the validity of self-reported weight., Design: Comparison of self-reported height and weight with independent measurement., Subjects: In total, 4253 men and 1148 women aged 35-64 y (mean measured body mass index (BMI): 23.3 kg/m(2) in men, 21.9 kg/m(2) in women) were included in the study., Measurements: Self-reported height and weight were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. Measured height and weight were based on annual health checkups. Sex, age, measured BMI, and the presence of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were examined as potential factors associated with the accuracy of self-reported weight., Results: Self-reported height and weight were highly correlated with measured height and weight for men and women (Pearson's r for men and women: 0.979 and 0.988 in height, 0.961 and 0.959 in weight, 0.943 and 0.950 in BMI, respectively). For men, mean differences+/-2 s.d. of height and weight were 0.078+/-2.324 cm and -0.034+/-5.012 kg, respectively, and for women 0.029+/-1.652 cm and 0.024+/-4.192 kg, respectively. The prevalence of obesity with BMI > or =25 kg/m(2) based on self-reported data (23.6 and 11.5% for men and women, respectively) was slightly smaller than that based on measured data (24.9 and 12.4%, respectively). Specificity and sensitivity, however, were quite high for both men and women (sensitivity was 85.8 and 85.2%, and specificity was 97.0 and 98.9%, respectively). The subjects with higher measured BMI significantly underestimated their weight compared with those with smaller BMI after adjustments for age in men and women. Furthermore, the presence of diabetes in men and age in women affected self-reported weight. Neither the presence of hypertension nor hyperlipidemia was associated with reporting bias., Conclusion: The self-reported height and weight were generally reliable in the middle-aged employed Japanese men and women. However, it should be remembered that self-reported weight was biased by actual BMI and affected by age and the presence of diabetes.

We report a recessive mutation of rice, aberrant panicle organization 1 (apo1), which severely affects inflorescence architecture, floral organ identity, and leaf production rate. In the wild-type inflorescence, the main-axis meristem aborts after forming 10-12 primary branch primordia. However, in apo1, the main-axis meristem was converted to a spikelet meristem after producing a small number of branch primordia. In addition, the branch meristems in apo1 became spikelet meristems earlier than in wild type. Therefore, in the inflorescence, the apo1 mutation caused the precocious conversion of the meristem identity. In the apo1 flower, lodicules were increased at the expense of stamens, and carpels were formed indeterminately by the loss of meristem determinacy. Vegetative development is also affected in the apo1. Leaves were formed rapidly throughout the vegetative phase, indicating that APO1 is also involved in temporal regulation of leaf production. These phenotypes suggest that the APO1 plays an important role in the temporal regulation of both vegetative and reproductive development.

For degradation of chitosan, chitosan with an 80% degree of deacetylation and a weight-average molecular mass (Mw) of approx. 48 kDa was irradiated with gamma-rays at doses up to 200 kGy in a 10% (w/v) solution. The Mw of chitosan was reduced from 48 to 9.1 kDa by irradiation. The characteristics of irradiated chitosan were analysed by using Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy and an elemental analyser. The amino group was found to be stable, whereas the C-O-C group decreased with increase in the dose. The product of chitosan irradiated at 100 kGy with an Mw of approx. 16 kDa showed the strongest growth promotion effect on plants in vitro. For shoot culture, supplementation with irradiated chitosan increased the fresh biomass of shoot clusters (7.2-17.0%) as well as the shoot multiplication rate (17.9-69.0%) for Chrysanthemum morifolium (florist's chrysanthemum), Limonium latifolium (limonium or sea-lavender), Eustoma grandiflorum (lisianthus, tulip gentian or Texas bluebell) and Fragaria ananassa (modern garden strawberry). The optimum concentrations of irradiated chitosan were found to be approx. 70-100 mg/l for chrysanthemum, 50-100 mg/l for lisianthus and 30-100 mg/l for limonium. For the plantlet culture, the optimum concentrations were found to be approx. 100 mg/l for chrysanthemum, 30 mg/l for lisianthus, 40 mg/l for limonium and 50 mg/l for strawberry. Supplementation with optimum concentrations of irradiated chitosan resulted in a significant increase in the fresh biomass (68.1% for chrysanthemum, 48.5% for lisianthus, 53.6% for limonium and 26.4% for strawberry), shoot height (19.4% for chrysanthemum, 16.5% for lisianthus, 33.9% for limonium and 25.9% for strawberry) and root length (40.6% for chrysanthemum, 66.9% for lisianthus, 23.4% for limonium and 22.6% for strawberry). In addition, treatment with irradiated chitosan enhanced the activity of chitosanase in treated plants and also improved the survival ratio and growth of the transferred plantlets acclimatized for 10-30 days under greenhouse conditions.

Background: The relation between weight fluctuation and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is fairly consistent, although the physiologic basis for the relationship is uncertain. In the present study the association between long-term weight fluctuation and the development of metabolic syndrome (MS), a potent CVD risk factor, was investigated., Methods and Results: A cross-sectional study of 664 Japanese men aged 40-49 years was conducted. The root mean square error around the slope of weight on age (weight - RMSE) was calculated by a simple linear regression model, in which the subject's actual weights at ages 20, 25, 30 years and 5 years prior to the study, as well as current weight, were dependent variables against the subject's age as the independent variable. Weight-RMSE was significantly and positively associated with the prevalence of each MS components (high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, low-high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high fasting glucose, and obesity). Such associations, as well as clustering of the MS component together with RMSE increase, were apparent among subjects with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, although the prevalence of MS or its components was much higher among overweight subjects (BMI >or=25 kg/m2)., Conclusions: Development of MS possibly explains the risk of CVD not only in overweight or obese persons, but also in normal-weight persons with large weight fluctuation.

Inflorescences and flowers in the grass species have characteristic structures that are distinct from those in eudicots. Owing to the availability of genetic tools and their genome sequences, rice and maize have become model plants for the grasses and for the monocots in general. Recent studies have provided much insight into the genetic control of inflorescence and flower development in grasses, especially in rice and maize. Progress in elucidating the developmental mechanisms in each of these plants may contribute greatly to our understanding of the evolution of development in higher plants.

Core-shell nanoparticles have been prepared by irradiation of gamma-ray on block copolymer micelles consisting of hydrophilic polyacrylic acid and hydrophobic polyisoprene with each 40 monomer units. The structure was determined by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The size distribution of the core-shell nanoparticles determined by DLS and AFM was very narrow. The average diameter of the particles decreased from 48 nm for the original micelles to 26 nm by the irradiation of 30 kGy. The core size determined by SAXS combined with DLS was roughly constant of 10 nm, irrespective of irradiation dose, whereas the shell thickness of the micelles was twice as large as the core size, and decreased with increasing irradiation dose.

Background: The role of inflammation in the genesis of cardiovascular disease has attracted attention and in the present study the association among metabolic syndrome (MS), white blood cell (WBC) count, and insulin concentration was investigated., Methods and Results: A cross-sectional study of 3,594 Japanese men aged 34-69 years evaluated the MS components (high blood pressure, hypo-high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia), as defined by the criteria given in the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults, except for obesity [body mass index (BMI) >/=25 kg/m(2)]. WBC count had a positive correlation with BMI, blood pressure, triglyceride, glucose and insulin, and a negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol. The multi-adjusted means of WBC count and insulin concentration were significantly higher in MS subjects defined as having 3 or more of the components than in non-MS subjects with no more than 2 components. Both means also increased with the number of MS components (p<0.001 for trend). In the multiple linear regression analysis, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, glucose and triglyceride had a significant and independent association with WBC count, but the insulin concentration did not., Conclusions: The cluster of MS components based on insulin resistance may cause low-grade inflammation.

The reactions of OH* or SO4*- radicals with carboxymethyl chitin (CM-chitin) and its deacetylated product, carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-chitosan), were investigated in aqueous solutions using a laser photolysis technique. The rate constants of the reactions of OH* and SO4*- radicals with CM-chitosan are always higher than those for CM-chitin, indicating that the amino-group could increase the reactivity of carboxymethylated chitin derivatives. The rate of the reactions of CM-chitin and CM-chitosan with OH* radical was found to decrease at lower pH when polymers chains tend to the coiled conformation. In comparison, the rate constant of the reaction of SO4*- radicals with CM-chitin or CM-chitosan decreased with pH, indicating that CM-chitin or CM-chitosan has a higher reactivity with the SO4*- radical at low pH due to the protonation of the amino group.

Laser photolysis experiments on carboxymethylated chitin derivatives, such as carboxymethyl chitin (CM-chitin) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-chitosan), in aqueous solution by a 248 nm excimer laser were carried out for the first time. The transient absorption spectra of photolyzed CM-chitin or CM-chitosan solutions revealed a strong band with the maximum at 720 nm, which was assigned to the hydrated electron (eaq-). In the presence of argon, the eaq- decays by reacting with CM-chitin or CM-chitosan, and the rate constants are (6.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) and (3.7 +/- 0.1) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. Long-lived radicals with relatively weak absorption intensity were detected in the near-UV region. The absorption band was not notably characteristic and showed only an increasing absorption toward shorter wavelengths. It is similar to the signal of *CM-chitin or *CM-chitosan macroradicals formed by the reaction of CM-chitin or CM-chitosan with an OH* radical. It was assigned to *CM-chitin- or *CM-chitosan- macroradicals formed by eaq- + CM-chitin or CM-chitosan reaction. CM-chitin aqueous solutions were further examined by pulse radiolysis in order to confirm the site of the long-lived radical.

A 56-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with fever, cough, and sputum production. Her chest radiograph and chest computed tomography showed multiple nodules. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis and an increased C-reactive protein concentration. Physical examination revealed a systolic murmur. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a 1.5-cm area of vegetation on the tricuspid valve. Blood cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus. Tricuspid valve endocarditis and septic pulmonary embolism were diagnosed. She was treated successfully with intravenous ampicillin/sulbactam. This was a rare case of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis in an adult patient without known predisposing factors.

In this article, we report that carpel specification in the Oryza sativa (rice) flower is regulated by the floral homeotic gene DROOPING LEAF (DL) that is distinct from the well-known ABC genes. Severe loss-of-function mutations of DL cause complete homeotic transformation of carpels into stamens. Molecular cloning reveals that DL is a member of the YABBY gene family and is closely related to the CRABS CLAW (CRC) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana. DL is expressed in the presumptive region (carpel anlagen), where carpel primordia would initiate, and in carpel primordia. These results suggest that carpel specification is regulated by DL in rice flower development. Whereas CRC plays only a partial role in carpel identity, DL may have been recruited to have the more essential function of specifying carpels during the evolution of rice. We also show that DL interacts antagonistically with class B genes and controls floral meristem determinacy. In addition, severe and weak dl alleles fail to form a midrib in the leaf. The phenotypic analysis of dl mutants, together with analyses of the spatial expression patterns and ectopic expression of DL, demonstrate that DL regulates midrib formation by promoting cell proliferation in the central region of the rice leaf.