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Dielectric multilayer including azobenzene polymer liquid crystal acts as a one-dimensional photonic crystal and has optical-switchable reflection bands. The reflection intensity can be controlled by irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) or visible light, in which the optical switch is based on cis-trans photoisomerization. An increase in the number of layers prevents photoresponse in the multilayer including azobenzen layers because UV or visible light for control cis-trans isomerization hardly reach the bottom of the multilayer due to exponential decay of light intensity. In this study, the multilayer consisting of thin azobenzene layers is investigated. According to numerical calculations, the non-quarter-wave structured multilayer has multiwavelength reflection band. Angular dependence of reflection color from multiwavelength stopband is also studied using the XYZ color space. The non-quarter-wave multilayer suppresses reflection color change compared with conventional quarter-wave multilayer.

We show that a rice GRAS family protein, CIGR2, is a bonafide transcriptional activator, and through this function, targets the B-type heat shock protein-encoding gene OsHsf23 (Os09g0456800). CIGR2 (Os07g0583600) is an N-acetylchitooligosaccharide elicitor-responsive gene whose activity, through the direct transcriptional control of OsHsf23, is required for mediating hypersensitive cell death activation during pathogen infection. RNAi lines of CIGR2 and OsHsf23 similarly exhibited the higher level of granulation in the epidermal cells of leaf sheath inoculated with an avirulent isolate of rice blast fungus. Interestingly, we did not observe altered levels of resistance, suggesting that CIGR2 suppresses excessive cell death in the incompatible interaction with blast fungus via activation of OsHsf23.

SUMMARY In clubroot disease, gall formation is induced by infection with the obligate biotroph Plasmodiophora brassicae due to increased levels of auxins and cytokinins. Because aldehyde oxidase (AO) may be involved in auxin biosynthesis in plants, we isolated two AO genes (BrAO1 and BrAO2) from Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis cv. Muso), which are the most similar to AAO1 among Arabidopsis AO genes, and examined their expressions during clubroot development. The expression of BrAO1 was enhanced in inoculated roots from 15 days post-inoculation (dpi) when visible clubroots were still undetectable. Thereafter, BrAO1 expression increased with clubroot development compared with uninoculated roots, although BrAO2 expression was repressed. In situ hybridization revealed that BrAO1 was strongly expressed in tissues that were invaded by immature plasmodia at 35 dpi, suggesting that BrAO1 expression was enhanced by the pathogen in order to establish its pathogenesis. In addition, we detected AO activity, as evidenced by the occurrence of at least six bands (BrAO-a to BrAO-f) in the roots of Chinese cabbage using an active staining method with benzaldehyde and indlole-3-aldehyde as the substrate. Coincidental with BrAO1 expression, the signals of BrAO-a and BrAO-d increased with inoculation by P. brassicae during clubroot development compared with healthy roots, resulting in an increase in total AO activity. By contrast, the band BrAO-b decreased post-inoculation, in parallel with the expression of BrAO2. The other bands of activity were not clearly influenced by the infection. Based on these results, we discuss the involvement of AO in auxin-overproduction during clubroot development in Chinese cabbage.

Infection of crucifers by the obligate plant pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae Woron. results in the formation of clubroot disease in these plants. Plasmodiophora brassicae gene expression during disease development was studied by differential display analysis of total RNA extracted from the roots of Chinese cabbage inoculated with the pathogen. In a series of experiments, 30 differentially expressed bands of cDNA were detected, and the expression of clone no. 17 was confirmed in clubbed roots. Southern blot analysis showed that this clone was a single-copy gene in the P. brassicae genome. Putative amino acid sequence analysis of the full-length cDNA of clone no. 17 (4.6 kb, designated PbSTKL1) revealed a serine/threonine kinase-like domain at the C-terminal region and a coiled-coil structure in the middle region of the putative protein. PbSTKL1 expression increased strongly beginning 30 days after inoculation and was coincident with resting spore formation.

The obligate biotroph Plasmodiophora brassicae induces club formation on roots of various species of the Brassicaceae family. This hypertrophy is dependent on increased amount of auxins and cytokinins. To investigate the involvement of cytokinin biosynthesis by the plant in clubroot development, we isolated cDNA fragments of five putative cytokinin synthase genes from Brassica rapa ( BrIPT1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , and 8 ) and examined their expression using Northern blot analysis. Observations at 5-day intervals revealed the first visible club formation (only near the base of the root) at 20 days post-inoculation (dpi). Compared with control roots, the expression of BrIPT1 , 3 , 5 , and 7 was increased at 20 dpi in parts of the inoculated root that lacked visible symptoms (>2 cm below the base of the root) but at which large clubs formed later in the progress of the disease. However, these genes were less expressed in clubs that formed 0–2 cm below the base of the root than in the control at 20 dpi. These results suggest that P . brassicae infection transiently stimulates the transcription of BrIPT1 , 3 , 5 , and 7 before club formation, after which the expression is repressed in clubs. No signals corresponding to BrIPT8 were detected in either inoculated or uninoculated roots. These results suggest that cytokinin biosynthesis by the plant is related to the primary development of clubroot disease, although it is unlikely to contribute to club enlargement.

Eleven genotypes of sorghum were examined for their response in tissue culture, and the tissue culture system was optimized. The cultures were initiated from immature embryos taken approximately two weeks after flowering. The response of immature embryos varied with the genotype. `C. Kafir' and `PE932 025' showed the highest frequency of callus induction and regenerable callus formation under appropriate culture conditions. Regeneration occurred at high frequencies when cytokinins (kinetin or 6-benzyladenine) had been added in the callus induction medium, followed by regeneration medium devoid of growth regulators. The addition of proline and polyvinylpyrrolidone also enhanced shoot formation, but the addition of cytokinins to regeneration media did not improve shoot formation. On the revised culture medium, plants were regenerated from up to 100% of sorghum immature embryos.

Summary The analysis of nitrate reductase(NR)-deficient mutants provides an efficient approach to the study of the regulatory mechanisms of nitrate assimilation. We previously isolated two cell lines, 12F and I-1, and suggested that the mutation in the 12F cell line related to translation of NR mRNA which is expressed in the presence of nitrate, and that the mutation in the I-1 cell line may be in a regulatory gene controlling both genes encoding NR and nitrite reductase (NiR). We investigated transformants of the two cell lines using particle bombardment with tobacco NR cDNA and analyzed the expression of NR and NiR in the transformants. In the 12F cell line transformants, NR activity and protein was rescued completely and the transformants could grow on NO3- medium. This result indicates that the 12F cell line has a mutation that prevents the synthesis of NR protein from NR mRNA. In the I-1 cell line, the activities of NR and NiR were detected in cells grown on NO3- medium, but at low levels. In the transformants however, activities of NR and NiR and the NR mRNA levels attained levels of observed in the wild-type cells. In addition, the transformants could also grow on NO3- medium. These results indicate that the I-1 cell line has a mutation related to the signal transfer cascade from the NO3- ion to the NR gene. This suggests that NR and NiR genes are co-regulated, and that the presence of NR mRNA may be post-transcriptionally essential for the synthesis of NiR protein.

A fast-growing, small, granular, embryogenic callus was selected from primary calli induced from the Japanese wheat cultivar Nakasoushu and the Australian wheat cultivar Bodallin. Regenerable and fine suspension cultures were induced three to six months after liquid culture was initiated and were characterized by dense cytoplasm and active division. These suspension cultures routinely provided high yields of protoplasts with about 90% viability when incubated in a modified KMP (Kao and Michayluk, 1975) medium containing 1 mg l-1 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), and 1 mg l-1 zeatin. Nakasoushu and Bodallin protoplasts divided at frequencies of 8.6% and 11.1%, respectively, in agarose-solidified media. When Nakasoushu protoplasts were cultured with effective nurse cells of sorghum and wheat, protoplast division increased to 16.9% and 12.6%, respectively. Plating efficiencies varied from 0.03% to 2.5%. After subculture, protocolonies yielded embryogenic calli and somatic embryos, from which green plants were eventually regenerated. Whole plants obtained from Nakasoushu protoplasts were fertile, demonstrating the first report of Japanese cultivars in wheat protoplast cultures.

Plant regeneration via tissue culture varies with the genotype and is an important factor in establishing cell selection and genetic transformation systems. To select genotypes – especially Japanese ones – with a high regeneration capability, we screened 107 wheat genotypes (78 domestic, 29 foreign) for callus induction and regeneration capability from anther and immature embryo cultures. For anther culture, 83 of 107 genotypes tested induced calli and 45 regenerated plants. Only 9 genotypes, however, produced green plants, 25 produced only albino plants, and 11 produced both green and albino plants. Glennson 81 was the highest in callus induction, followed by Orofen, Danchi–komugi and Chris. The genotypes with a relatively high regeneration capability were Framala 80 at 24% and Glennson 81 at 19%, these two genotypes produced only green plants. For immature embryo culture, 97 genotypes showed a 90% callus induction rate and 74 genotypes regenerated plants. Very few genotypes produced albino plants. The genotypes with a high regeneration capability were Genaro 81 at 90%, Chinese Spring at 80%, and Norin 75 at 75%.

Mature seeds of 250 sorghum varieties were cultured to evaluate ability of callus formation and plant regeneration. Twenty germinated seeds were placed on callus induction medium and cultured for 30 days. The composition of callus induction medium was MS supplemented with 2 mg/l 2, 4-D, 30 g/l sucrose, 2 g/l Gelrite and pH was adjusted to 6.0 before autocraving. The composition of callus maintenance medium was the same as callus induction medium except that the concentration of 2, 4-D was reduced to 1 mg/l and the calli were cultured for 30 days. The composition of plant regeneration was the same as callus induction medium except that 2, 4-D was omitted. After 30 days of culture on the regeneration medium, plant regeneration was evaluated. In this culture system, most varieties formed compact yellowish calli. Type of plant regeneration was organogenesis and distinct somatic embryogenesis was not observed. In many cases only root formation was observed. Five varieties showed relatively high ability of plant regeneration. They were CK602, CKW5809, PE932 203, PE954 068 and PE954 110. Among the variety groups, Kafir group varieties showed relatively high ability of callus formation and plant regeneration. These five varieties and Kafir group varieties may be useful for iu vitro study of sorghum which requires plant regeneration.

We investigated chemical composition of cereals (rice, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, proso millet, sorghum for food, sorghum for feed, Job's tears, wheat, barley), buckwheat (common buckwheat) and pulses (small red bean, kidney bean, soybean). Kjeldahl-digested materials of powdered whole kernels of 719 samples were analyzed by automated colorimetric procedure (Technicon auto-analyzer) for N and P contents. HCl solution (0.34N) extracts of powdered whole kernels of 719 samples were analyzed by Polarized-Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometry (HITACHI Z8000) for K, Mg, Ca and Mn contents. Most of the cereals for food (including buckwheat) which have a history of more than a thousand years in East Asia showed about 1.5 of Mg/K ratio in chemical equivalence. Wheat, barley and sorghum (for animal feeding) which originated from West Asia or Africa showed comparatively lower Mg/K ratio. Pulses had the lowest Mg/K ratio, i.e. approximately 0.4, because of high K content. These data suggest that the contents and balances of K and Mg in crop kernels are genetically controlled.

Non-quarter-wave stacked dielectric multilayers including azobenzene polymer liquid crystal layers are investigated in this study. The azobenzene polymer liquid crystal has a photoinduced reversible refractive index based on photoisomerization. By using the reversible refractive-index change, the reflectance of a stopband can be controlled. In this system, the azobenzene molecules change their conformation when they are irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) or visible light. In general, stacking many layers of different thicknesses can produce broadband or multicolor reflections for a dielectric multilayer. However, in a multilayer having thick azobenzene layers, UV or visible light used for controlling photoisomerization hardly reaches the bottom part of the multilayer because the light is mainly absorbed at its top surface. To solve this problem, the dependence on the thickness ratio of the multilayer is investigated and a non-quarter-wave stacked multilayer having RGB reflections is experimentally demonstrated using thin azobenzene layers.

A dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase (DCP) activity was detected in cell-free extracts of Pseudomonas sp. WO24. After purification and characterization the enzyme was found to be homogeneous by SDS-PAGE, and had a molecular mass of 74,000 Da by SDS-PAGE and 72,000 Da by gel filtration, indicating that it is monomeric. The isoelectric point was 5.2 and optimum pH was 6.5-7.0. It showed a specific activity of 780 mumol/min/mg, which is the highest of the values shown by known enzymes. The enzyme hydrolyzed angiotensin I to angiotensin II and sequentially released Phe-Arg and Ser-Pro from the C-terminus bradykinin. The DCP could not cleave imido-bonds, Gly-Gly bonds, or tripeptides. The enzymatic activity was completely inhibited by 0.001 mM EDTA and 0.1 mM O-phenanthroline, but it was not affected by general serine and cysteine protease inhibitors. Addition of Zn2+ completely restored the original activity of the inactivated DCP treated with EDTA. These results suggest that this enzyme is a zinc metalloprotease. The characteristics of the purified enzyme are slightly different from those of the DCPs from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas maltophilia, and Corynebacterium equi, and considerably from those of the DCP from Bacillus pumilus.

Cells from a suspension culture of Sorghum vulgare (sorghum) have been transformed to either hygromycin or kanamycin resistance following uptake of pBC1 or pNGI plasmids, respectively, introduced on DNA-coated high velocity microprojectiles. Hygromycin- and kanamycin-resistant transformants contained hygromycin B phosphotransferase- and neomycin phosphotransferasehybridizing restriction fragments of the expected size, respectively. A second introduced, but unselected for, reporter uidA gene which encodes s-glucuronidase activity was also detected by DNA gel blot analysis in these transformants and shown to be expressed at low levels in two of the ten transformants analyzed. Transcripts from the introduced foreign genes accumulated to detectable levels in only these two transformants, both of which had a high copy number of genes integrated into their genome. This report further establishes the biolistic method as a useful route for delivery of DNA into the difficult-to-transform monocotyledonous plant species and represents the first stable transformation of this agronomically-important cereal grain.

A case of tumoral calcinosis in a 47-year-old female patient being treated by long term hemodialysis for 7 years was reported.The calcinosis developed from the lower neck to inner and outer aspects of the left scapula. The contents of calcinosis were confirmed by Roentgen analysis as hydro-oxyapatite, and the histological and electron microscopic findings were presented.

The authors reported a male patient aged 34 years with multi-traumas by falling down from 3m height, including comminuted dislocation fracture of the left distal radius, dislocation of the left elbow and fracture of the 9, 10 and 11th ribs. The elbow and the ribs were treated conservatively on the day of injury, and radius by intraosseous loop wiring 12 days later.While the clinical course was favourable, he suddenly complained of pain in his back and left chest followed by severe hypovolemic shock with hemothorax 18 days after injury. The fragment of the 10th rib injured the diaphragm, which was sutured with success.

Thirty-seven knees in 28 patients with osteoarthritis were teated by high tibial osteotomy with median open wedge and ventralization of the tibial tuberosity, and the excellent results were obtained. The operative procedures were presented with interesting cases, in which intraarticular loose bodies were absorbed and loose marginal spurs were united to the tibia.

A case of severe open fracture of the right elbow in a 21-years-old male patient caused by car accident was reported.The distal humerus and the olecranon were splintered and the elbow was dislocated with a large wound on its dorsal side. Initially, the elbow was immobilized with an external fixateur, being resulted in severe deep infection which was cured by two times of sequestrotomy and skin grafting with the large bony defect and adhesive scar tissues.After healing of the infection, the defected elbow was successfully bridged by the two times of iliac bone grafting, and the patient is satisfied in his daily activities 2 years after the injury.