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The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) Early Light-Induced Protein (ELIP) is thought to act as a photoprotectant, reducing the damaging effects of high light (HL). Expression of ELIP2 is activated by multiple environmental stresses related to photoinhibition. We have identified putative regulatory elements in an ELIP2 promoter using an octamer-based frequency comparison method, analyzed the role of these elements using synthetic promoters, and revealed a key transcriptional regulatory unit for ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation, HL, and cold stress responses. The unit is composed of two elements, designated as Elements A (TACACACC) and B (GGCCACGCCA), and shows functionality only when paired. Our genome-wide correlation analysis between possession of these elements in the promoter region and expression profiles in response to UV-B, HL, and cold suggests that Element B receives and integrates these multiple stress signals. In vitro protein-DNA binding assays revealed that LONG HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), a basic domain-Leucine zipper transcription factor, directly binds to Element B. In addition, mutant analysis of HY5 showed partial involvement in the UV-B and HL responses but not in the cold stress response. These results suggest that signals for UV-B, HL, and cold stress join at Element B, which recognizes the signals of multiple transcription factors, including HY5.

This paper describes the results of the surface pressure measurements on a wind turbine rotor and the velocity measurements around the rotating blade. The experiments are carried out in a wind tunnel with a 2.4 m diameter three-bladed wind turbine. The pressure taps are set at 31 positions in each of four test sections. Four radial sections at γ/R=0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.85 are selected for the measurements. The pressure distributions are measured for both rotating and non-rotating situation. These pressure distributions are compared and used for detecting the angle of attack for the rotating blade. The pressure distribution at γ/R>0.7 shows the good agreements between rotating and non-rotating situation. The pressure distribution for the inner part of γ/R

Hydrogen peroxide acts as a signaling molecule mediating the acquisition of tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Identification of marker genes for H2O2 response could help to intercept the signaling network of stress response of plants. Here, we describe application of marker genes for H2O2 responses to monitoring several abiotic stress responses. Arabidopsis plants were treated with UV-B, high light, and cold stresses, where involvement of H2O2-mediated signaling is known or suggested. Monitoring of these stress responses with molecular markers using quantitative real-time RT-PCR can detect landmark events in the sequential stress responses. These methods can be used for analysis of mutants and transgenic plants to examine natural H2O2 responses that are involved in environmental adaptation.

Hydrogen peroxide acts as a signaling molecule mediating the acquisition of tolerance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Identification of marker genes for H2O2 response could help to intercept the signaling network of stress response of plants. Here, we describe application of marker genes for H2O2 responses to monitoring several abiotic stress responses. Arabidopsis plants were treated with UV-B, high light, and cold stresses, where involvement of H2O2-mediated signaling is known or suggested. Monitoring of these stress responses with molecular markers using quantitative real-time RT-PCR can detect landmark events in the sequential stress responses. These methods can be used for analysis of mutants and transgenic plants to examine natural H2O2 responses that are involved in environmental adaptation.

To clarify the taxonomical status and the geographical differentiation of pear cultivars in Japan, the occurrence of a species-specific flavonoid in leaf extracts was surveyed on 31 Pyrus species, 171 East Asian pear cultivars, and several uncultivated wild clones located in Japan and other places using paper chromatography. A brilliant yellow spot under UV Iight, with small Rf values 0.04 in BXA (n-BuOH/xylene/HOAc/H20 (6:4: 2:8)) and 0.02 in 2% HOAc (acetic acid) solvent was found in the extracts from the Ussurian pear (Pyrus ussuriensis Max.), native to northern China and northern-central Korea, from Iwateyamanashi (P.aromatica Nakai et Kikuchi) native to Tohoku region in Japan, and from their cultivars, but not from other East Asian Pyrus species, nor from European and Mediterranean species and their cultivars. This spot was confirmed to contain the flavonol aglycone (F-Ar), which seems to be a specific flavonold for the above species, and a useful chemotaxonomical marker in the genus Pyrus. In Japan, the occurrence of F-Ar was restricted to the old native cultivars originating in the Tohoku region and to the wild clones originating in the Kanto and Chubu regions and in Iwate prefecture. It was not contained in the old cultivars native to Kanto, Hokuriku and Kyushu regions. The distribution of cultivars and clones containing F-Ar nearly covered the native area of the Iwateyamanashi (P.aromatica). Most of the recent cultivars lacked F-Ar except for 5 cultivars including Nijisseik-i.