Mapping QTLs for 1000-grain weight and genes controlling hull type using SNP marker in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

BACKGROUND: Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), an important pseudocereal crop, has high economic value due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. However, dehulling of Tartary buckwheat is difficult owing to its thick and tough hull, which has greatly limited the development of the Tartary buckwheat processing industry. The construction of high-resolution genetic maps serves as a basis for identifying quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and qualitative trait genes for agronomic traits. In this study, a recombinant inbred lines (XJ-RILs) population derived from a cross between the easily dehulled Rice-Tartary type and Tartary buckwheat type was genotyped using restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing to construct a high-density SNP genetic map. Furthermore, QTLs for 1000-grain weight (TGW) and genes controlling hull type were mapped in multiple environments. RESULTS: In total, 4151 bin markers comprising 122,185 SNPs were used to construct the genetic linkage map. The map consisted of 8 linkage groups and covered 1444.15 cM, with an average distance of 0.35 cM between adjacent bin markers. Nine QTLs for TGW were detected and distributed on four loci on chromosome 1 and 4. A major locus detected in all three trials was mapped in 38.2-39.8 cM region on chromosome 1, with an LOD score of 18.1-37.0, and explained for 23.6-47.5% of the phenotypic variation. The genes controlling hull type were mapped to chromosome 1 between marker Block330 and Block331, which was closely followed by the major locus for TGW. The expression levels of the seven candidate genes controlling hull type present in the region between Block330 and Block336 was low during grain development, and no significant difference was observed between the parental lines. Six non-synonymous coding SNPs were found between the two parents in the region. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed a high-density SNP genetic map for the first time in Tartary buckwheat. The mapped major loci controlling TGW and hull type will be valuable for gene cloning and revealing the mechanism underlying grain development and easy dehulling, and marker-assisted selection in Tartary buckwheat.

Analysis of structural injury patterns in peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer and retinal ganglion cell layer in ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: We investigated structural injury patterns in the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (p-RNFL) and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) caused by ethambutol treatment. METHODS: Sixty-four patients undergoing ethambutol treatment at Zhejiang Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Integrated Hospital were recruited. Fourteen (14) exhibited visual dysfunction (abnormal group), and the remaining 50 had no visual dysfunction (subclinical group). The thickness of the p-RNFL, total macular retina layer and GCIPL were measured using Cirrus-HD Optical coherence tomography (Cirrus-HD OCT, Cirrus high-definition optical coherence tomography), and compared with 60 healthy, age-matched controls. RESULTS: The p-RNFL thickness was similar in both subclinical and control groups. When compared with the control group, p-RNFL thickness in the abnormal group was significantly increased in the inferior and superior quadrants (GEE, P = 0.040, P = 0.010 respectively). In contrast with the subclinical group, p-RNFL thickness in the inferior quadrant was increased in the abnormal group (GEE, P = 0.047). The GCIPL thickness in the inferonasal and inferior sectors was significantly deceased in the subclinical group when compared with controls (GEE, P = 0.028, P = 0.047, respectively). The average and minimum value of GCIPL thickness, and thickness in the superonasal, inferior, inferotemporal, superotemporal and superior sectors were significantly decreased in the abnormal group when compared with controls (GEE, P = 0.016, P = 0.001, P = 0.028, P = 0.010, P = 0.012, P = 0.015, P = 0.010, respectively). The cube average macular thickness (CAMT) in the abnormal group was significantly thinner than controls (GEE, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: GCIPL measurements using Cirrus-HD OCT detected retinal ganglion cell layer loss following ethambutol treatment, before visual dysfunction occurred.

Unilateral inferior oblique anterior transposition for markedly asymmetric dissociated vertical deviation with unilateral inferior oblique over-action.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the results of unilateral inferior oblique anterior transposition (IOAT) for markedly asymmetric dissociated vertical deviation (DVD) combined with inferior oblique over-action (IOOA). METHODS: Retrospective chart review of the records of all patients with asymmetric DVD combined with unilateral IOOA in the non-dominant eye who received unilateral IOAT on the non-dominant eye. No other muscles were operated on simultaneously. The amount of DVD and IOOA were measured before and after the operation and statistically analysed. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were included. The mean age at surgery was 23.5 ± 8.4 (range 12-38) years old. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 15.7 ± 7.2 (range 6-32) months. The primary position DVD was 19.6 ± 5.4 (range 14-36) PD preoperatively and decreased significantly to 2.9 ± 2.0 (range 0-8) PD postoperatively (P < 0.01). Preoperatively, there were 2, 7, and 8 patients with + 1, + 2, and + 3 IOOA, respectively, and these were reduced from 2.4 ± 0.7 to 0.3 ± 0.4 postoperatively (P < 0.01). None of the patients were complicated obvious hypotropia, anti-elevation syndrome or IOOA in the contralateral eye. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral IOAT was recommended in patients with asymmetric DVD coexists with unilateral IOOA.

Indolediketopiperazine Alkaloids from Eurotium cristatum EN-220, an Endophytic Fungus Isolated from the Marine Alga Sargassum thunbergii.

Four new indolediketopiperazine derivatives (1-4), along with nine known congeners (5-13), were isolated and identified from the culture extract of Eurotium cristatum EN-220, an endophytic fungus obtained from the marine alga Sargassum thunbergii. The structures of thesecompounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and the absolute configurations of compounds 1-4 were established by NOESY experiments and by chiral HPLC analyses of their acid hydrolysates. The absolute configuration of C-8 (a quaternary carbon substituted with a hydroxyl group) in 5 of preechinulin class was firstly determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. All these compounds were evaluatedfor brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality and nematicidal activity as well as antioxidativeand antimicrobial potency.

Physiological changes and sHSPs genes relative transcription in relation to the acquisition of seed germination during maturation of hybrid rice seed.

BACKGROUND: During the production of early hybrid rice seed, the seeds dehydrated slowly and retained high moisture levels when rainy weather lasted for a couple of days, and the rice seeds easily occurred pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) along with high temperature. Therefore it is necessary to harvest the seeds before the PHS occurred. RESULTS: The seeds of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica) cv. Qianyou No1 that harvests from 19 to 28 days after pollination (DAP) all had high seed vigour. The seed moisture content at 10 DAP was 36.1%, and declined to 28.6% at 19 DAP; the contents of soluble sugar and total starch increased significantly with the development of seeds. The soluble protein content, the level of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA3 ), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity continued to decrease from 10 DAP to 19 DAP. The seeds at 19 DAP had the highest peroxidase (POD) activity and lowest catalase (CAT) activity while the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity had no significant difference among the different developing periods. The relative expressions of genes 64S Hsp18.0 and Os03g0267200 transcripts increased significantly from 10 to 19 DAP, and then decreased. However, no significant change was recorded in soluble protein, sugar and GA3 after 16 DAP, and they all significantly correlated with seed viability and vigour during the process of seed maturity. CONCLUSION: The seeds of hybrid rice Qianyou No1 had a higher viability and vigour when harvested from 19 DAP to 28 DAP, the transcription levels of 64S Hsp18.0 and Os03g0267200 increased significantly from 10 DAP to 19 DAP and the highest value was recorded at 19 DAP. The seeds could be harvested as early as 19 DAP without negative influence on seed vigour and viability.

[The Performance Analysis for Lighting Sources in Highway Tunnel Based on Visual Function].

Under the condition of mesopic vision, the spectral luminous efficiency function is shown as a series of curves. Its peak wavelength and intensity are affected by light spectrum, background brightness and other aspects. The impact of light source to lighting visibility could not be carried out via a single optical parametric characterization. The reaction time of visual cognition is regard as evaluating indexes in this experiment. Under the condition of different speed and luminous environment, testing visual cognition based on vision function method. The light sources include high pressure sodium, electrodeless fluorescent lamp and white LED with three kinds of color temperature (the range of color temperature is from 1 958 to 5 537 K). The background brightness value is used for basic section of highway tunnel illumination and general outdoor illumination, its range is between 1 and 5 cd x m(-)2. All values are in the scope of mesopic vision. Test results show that: under the same condition of speed and luminance, the reaction time of visual cognition that corresponding to high color temperature of light source is shorter than it corresponding to low color temperature; the reaction time corresponding to visual target in high speed is shorter than it in low speed. At the end moment, however, the visual angle of target in observer's visual field that corresponding to low speed was larger than it corresponding to high speed. Based on MOVE model, calculating the equivalent luminance of human mesopic vision, which is on condition of different emission spectrum and background brightness that formed by test lighting sources. Compared with photopic vision result, the standard deviation (CV) of time-reaction curve corresponding to equivalent brightness of mesopic vision is smaller. Under the condition of mesopic vision, the discrepancy between equivalent brightness of different lighting source and photopic vision, that is one of the main reasons for causing the discrepancy of visual recognition. The emission spectrum peak of GaN chip is approximate to the wave length peak of efficiency function in photopic vision. The lighting visual effect of write LED in high color temperature is better than it in low color temperature and electrodeless fluorescent lamp. The lighting visual effect of high pressure sodium is weak. Because of its peak value is around the Na+ characteristic spectra.

[Advances of NIR spectroscopy technology applied in seed quality detection].

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology developed fast in recent years, due to its rapid speed, less pollution, high-efficiency and other advantages. It has been widely used in many fields such as food, chemical industry, pharmacy, agriculture and so on. The seed is the most basic and important agricultural capital goods, and seed quality is important for agricultural production. Most methods presently used for seed quality detecting were destructive, slow and needed pretreatment, therefore, developing one kind of method that is simple and rapid has great significance for seed quality testing. This article reviewed the application and trends of NIRS technology in testing of seed constituents, vigor, disease and insect pests etc. For moisture, starch, protein, fatty acid and carotene content, the model identification rates were high as their relative contents were high; for trace organic, the identification rates were low as their relative content were low. The heat-damaged seeds with low vigor were discriminated by NIRS, the seeds stored for different time could also been identified. The discrimination of frost-damaged seeds was impossible. The NIRS could be used to identify health and infected disease seeds, and did the classification for the health degree; it could identify parts of the fungal pathogens. The NIRS could identify worm-eaten and health seeds, and further distinguished the insect species, however the identification effects for small larval and low injury level of insect pests was not good enough. Finally, in present paper existing problems and development trends for NIRS in seed quality detection was discussed, especially the single seed detecting technology which was characteristic of the seed industry, the standardization of its spectral acquisition accessories will greatly improve its applicability.

[Study on influence of source spectra on retro-reflection coefficient].

Based on emission spectra of light sources and reflectivity curve of retroreflective materials, relative relations and changing trend of retroreflection coefficient of materials in different light sources was researched through data fitting. The tests were carried on the standard A light source test system. One kind of test results are emission spectra of halogen light source, xenon light source and white LED with different color temperature. And another kind of results are reflectivity curve of retroreflective materials with five different colors such as red, yellow, white, green and blue. Then the correction factors of retroreflection coefficient in different light sources were obtained by test results and data fitting. It shows that the change inlight source spectra has no effect on retroreflection coefficient of white material, which has continuous reflectivity curve in the range of visible light, but has some effect on retroreflection coefficient of the other color materials. Compared with halogen light source, white LED and xenon light source can increase retroreflection coefficient of red and yellow materials, and the increase in the color temperature of light source will decrease retroreflection coefficient of red and yellow materials by the maximum of 47.7% and 4.9%. Conversely, retroreflection coefficient of green and blue materials will increase by the maximum of 16.5% and 28.9%.

Temporal dynamics of stomatal regulation and carbon- and water-related traits for a native tree species in low subtropical China.

Stomata are pivotal in modulating water and carbon processes within plants. However, our understanding of the temporal dynamics of water- and carbon-related traits, as influenced by stomatal behavior, remains limited. Here, we explore how stomatal regulation behavior and water- and carbon-related traits vary with changing environments by examining the seasonal variations in these traits of the native tree species Schima superba in low subtropical China. In February, April, and July of 2022, a series of water- and carbon-related traits were measured in the leaves and stems. The results showed that S. superba exhibited isohydric behavior in February when the soil dried out and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) was lower but anisohydric behavior in April and July when the soil was wetter and VPD was higher. In February, NSC and their components increased, and a relatively large contribution of soluble sugars to the change in NSC was observed. In the branches and phloem, NSC and their components displayed a relatively high monthly variability, suggesting their role in maintaining carbon balance within the trees. Conversely, the NSC in the leaves demonstrated minimal monthly variability. The specific leaf area, as well as the concentration of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) per unit mass in leaves and the cumulative stem water release, exhibited a decrease with a reduction in soil water potential. Interestingly, the hydraulic conductivity remained consistent throughout this process. Furthermore, the relatively low monthly growth rate observed in February could suggest a carbon sink limitation. In conclusion, the increased NSC and decreased water status of S. superba under relatively stressed soil conditions indicated a trade-off between water and carbon storage. Our findings enhance our comprehension of the dynamics and regulation of water and carbon status in forests, thereby advancing the development of plant carbon and water process models under climate change scenarios.

[Endovascular therapy of superior mesenteric artery embolism].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and immediate efficacy of endovascular treatment for superior mesenteric artery embolism. METHODS: From November 2007 to October 2012, 18 cases of superior mesenteric artery embolism were treated by thrombus extraction and/or catheter-directed thrombolysis. There were 13 males and 5 females with an age range of 44-91 years. The concurrent conditions included atrial fibrillation (n = 8) and rheumatic valve disease (n = 3). All diagnoses were made with abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination. Embolism was predominantly located at 3 to 10 cm away from opening. The procedures included thrombus extraction plus system thrombosis (n = 3), thrombus extraction and catheter-directed thrombolysis (n = 6), catheter-directed thrombolysis (n = 5) and thrombus extraction, catheter-directed thrombolysis and PTA (n = 2). RESULTS: The technical success rate was 100%. Two cases had new embolism in popliteal artery. Another case with peritoneal irritation syndrome died after automatic discharge. The other 17 patients obtained satisfactory results and were followed up after 6 months by color Doppler ultrasound or abdominal enhanced CT. It showed that superior mesenteric arteries were unobstructed, but local stenosis occurred in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Endovascular interventional therapy is both safe and efficacious in the treatment of superior mesenteric artery embolization. And its immediate effect is satisfactory.

[Analysis of cause and treatment of acute limb ischemia complicated in peripheral endovascular interventions].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the cause and treatment of acute limb ischemia in endovascular therapy of the lower extremity arterial occlusive disease. METHODS: Clinical data of 54 cases of acute limb ischemia in the endovascular treatment of 685 cases of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease from June 2003 to April 2012 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 43 male and 11 female patients, with a mean age of 72.3 years (ranging from 56 to 82 years). The major causes which resulted in acute limb ischemia included: arterial embolization of 43 cases, arterial thrombosis of 8 cases, arterial dissection of 3 cases. The acute limb ischemia occurred in the process of balloon angioplasty/stent in 36 cases, catheter-directed thrombolysis in 17 cases, Silverhawk atherectomy in 1 cases. Thirty-two cases were treated by endovascular treatment, 9 cases by surgical procedures (bypass or embolectomy), 13 cases by the combination of endovascular therapy and surgical procedures. RESULTS: Treatment were successfully accomplished in 50 of 54 cases, and failed in 4 cases which had surgical amputation. There were no deaths in all the patients. Forty-five of 54 cases were followed up for the average of 40.3 months. Six cases had ischemic symptoms recurrence in 43 artery embolization patients, in whom 4 cases were cured by endovascular treatment, 2 cases were cured by toe amputation. One case of bypass anastomotic stenosis and one case of stent restenosis were successfully cured by endovascular treatment in 8 arterial thrombosis patients. One cases of below-knee artery stent occlusion in 3 arterial dissection patients was cured by medical treatment. Four cases of amputation patients were followed up in good condition. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients of acute limb ischemia complicated in endovascular therapy could be treated by endovascular therapy. Surgical procedures in time is still the best choice for the patients in whom the endovascular therapy was not satisfied.

[Studies on flash extraction methods of Arnebia euchroma].

The extraction of functional components from radix of Arnebia euchroma was optimized using orthogonal design based on the extraction yields of shikonin, and hydroxyl-naphthoquinone pigments. The data processing was carried out with the multiple guidelines grading method for optimizing the extraction condition. Compared with the traditional method (refluxing and ultrasonic extraction), the flash extraction method was more efficient The optimal conditions were as follows: 95% ethanol extract 3 times with 90 s for each. Under these conditions, the extraction yields of shikonin, and hydroxyl-naphthoquinone pigments were 93.16%, 93.89%, respectively, and the dry extract rate was 5.16%. In conclusion, the result showed that the flash extraction technology was appropriate, stable and feasible.

[Pharmacokinetics of scutellarin and its derivant scutellarin ethyl ester in rats].

To develop a HPLC method for determination of the concentration of scutellarin and scutellarin ethyl ester and their pharmacokinetics were also compared. 104 mg kg-1of scutellarin or 114. 5 mg kg-1 scutellarin ethyl ester were given at single dose by oral gavarge. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. Plasma concentration was measured by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with Winnonlin program. The plasma concentration-time profile of scutellarin and scutellarin ethyl ester were both fitted with non-compartment model and both were double peaks. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of scutellarin and scutellarin ethyl ester were as follows: Tmax Cmax and AUC0-t for scutellarin were (6 +/- 1.26) h, (321.55 +/-48.31) microg L-1 and (2 974 +/-753) h micro.g L-1; for scutellarin ethyl ester, Tmax, Cmax and AUC0-t were 0.5 h, (1 550.82 +/-219.75) +/- microg L- and (6 407 +/- 399) h microg L-1. The speed ingested into the blood of scutellarin ethyl ester was faster than scutellarin, and the bioavailability of scutellarin ethyl ester was two times higher than scutellarin.

Climate-driven sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity and the Huber value but not leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity on a global scale.

Efficient water transport is crucial for plant growth and survival. Plant hydraulic conductivity varies between functional groups and biomes and is strongly influenced by changing environmental conditions. However, correlations of conductivity-related hydraulic traits with climatic variables are not fully understood, preventing clarification of plant form and function under climate change scenarios. By compiling leaf-specific hydraulic conductivity (KL), sapwood-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), and Huber values (Hv, sapwood area to leaf area ratio) along with climatic variables including mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP) and aridity index (AI) for 428 species across a wide range of plant functional types (PFTs) and biomes at a global scale, we found greater variability of KL within PFTs and biomes than across PFTs and biomes. Interaction effects between PFTs and biomes on KL and Ks were found. The interaction between MAT and MAP played a significant role in Ks and Hv (t = 3.89, P < 0.001 for Ks and t = -5.77, P < 0.001 for Hv). With increasing AI, Ks increased and Hv decreased. KL was not influenced by the investigated climatic variables. Our study provides a better understanding of the dynamics of hydraulic structure and function across functional groups and biomes and of the abiotic drivers of their large-scale variations.

[The effects of insulin-like growth factor 1 and transforming growth factor ß-3 at various concentration on tenocyte survival and collagen formation].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the culture media by adding the growth factors required to maintain tenocytes survival and promote their differentiation without fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplementation, in order for the approach to be used for any future tendon tissue engineering. METHODS: The human tenocytes were cultured in α-MEM media by adding FBS at various concentrations and supplementing both insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor ß-3 (TGFß-3). A number of growth factors were selected that could support tenocytes expansion at reduced differentiated state with the minimum FBS. By employing fractional factorial design, different treatment groups went through AlamarBlue(TM) tests to evaluate the cell number growth whilst collagen quantification by real time RT-PCR technique and tenocyte differentiation were also studied. RESULTS: The tenocytes cultured for 14 days with 0% FBS, 50 ng/ml IGF-1 and 10 ng/ml TGFß-3 maintained survival over 14 days, the Cell count were 6228.68 ± 43.87. They were higher than the other experimental groups, but less than 10% FBS control group (13 576.74 ± 286.75, t = 41.29, P < 0.05). The tenocytes cultured in the treated group also showed enhanced collagen synthesis ((0.322 ± 0.003) ng, t = 4.13 - 5.93, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings have shown for the first time that human tenocytes could be maintained survival for a long period of time in the culture media without FBS, having this approach a suitable one for tendon tissue engineering.

[Influence of lighting sources spectra on the human visual brightness identification under the mesopic vision].

Based on the MOVE models and the measurement of emission spectra of various light sources, the photopic function weights x and the mesopic equivalent brightness of human visual spectral luminous efficiency in different background brightness were calculated. Results showed that in the mesopic scope, human visual function peak value gradually increases with the brightness decreasing, and is moving towards the short-wave direction. The change rate is inversely proportional to the s/p index. In the case of ambient brightness for 0.5 cd X m(-2), peak values increase by 30% compared to the photopic function. Compared to the traditional test results, the mesopic equivalent brightness of fluorescent lamp and other different color temperature white light LED showed a positive gain that reaches 40%. On the other hand, the high pressure sodium lamp showed a negative gain. Results also showed that there was a decreasing trend when the ambient light level increased, and once the brightness level reaches that when cone cells play a full role, the equivalent brightness will equal photopic brightness. The methods and conclusions of this paper can help evaluate light sources, light-emitting material spectrum and characteristics of apparent brightness.

Ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy with rare bilateral asymmetry onset: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy (EON) most commonly manifests as bilateral symmetrical loss of vision and often cause serious and irreversible visual impairment because of the lack of early detection and effective treatment. We followed a case of EON with rare binocular asymmetric clinical manifestations and observed the changes of visual function and retinal structure after drug withdrawal, so as to further understand the clinical characteristics of this disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old man complained of gradual visual decline in the left eye. The patient presented with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in the right eye and 20/50 in the left eye. Color vision examination revealed difficulty in reading green color plates in the left eye. The visual field manifested as concentric contraction in the left eye. After nearly a month of drug withdrawal, the right eye had a similar decline in visual function. At the last visit, 19 mo after drug withdrawal, the visual function significantly recovered in both eyes. During follow-up optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination, both eyes manifested the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer from mild thickening to thinning and finally temporal atrophy, and the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer showed significant thinning. The difference was that a reversible structural disorder in the outer retina of the nasal macula was detected in the left eye by macular high-definition OCT. CONCLUSION: Nephropathy and high blood pressure, which damage the retinal microcirculation, may cause damage to the outer layer of the retina. Ethambutol may influence photoreceptor as well as retinal ganglion cells.

[Rapid and nondestructive discrimination of hybrid maize seed purity using near infrared spectroscopy].

Near infrared spectroscopy technology was applied to study rapid and nondestructive discrimination method of hybrid maize seed purity. With NongDa108 hybrid seeds and mother 178 seeds, a discrimination model for the purity of maize single seed was built by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy with distinguished partial least squares (DPLS). A total of 200 seeds including 100 hybrid seeds and 100 mother seeds were divided into two groups: calibration set (150 samples) and validation set (50 samples), and each group had same number of hybrid and mother seeds. To eliminate human errors as much as possible we used two sample cups with transmission hole diameter of 3.0 and 4.5 mm, respectively, at the bottom for spectrum acquisition. The location of sample cups and seeds were fixed during spectrum acquisition process. The result showed that the average identification rate with 3 mm transmission hole diameter was 99.82%, significantly higher than that of 4.5 mm whose average identification rate was just 90.96%. There was no significant difference among the identification rates of one replicate and two replicates spectrum on endosperm face, two replicates spectrum on embryo face and four replicates. The rates of validation set reached about 99%, slightly more than that of one replicate on embryo face. The identification rates of one spectrum and two replicates spectrum on endosperm face in calibration and validation set were 100%, with the spectral region between 4000 and 8000 cm(-1). With 3.0 mm transmission hole diameter and 4000-8000 cm(-1) spectral region, the seed purity identification rates in calibration and validation sets built up by one spectrum on endosperm face were 100%. With the increase in principal components, the identification rates in calibration set and validation set gradually increased, and when principal components reached 9, the rate in both of sets were 100%. The results have important value for rapid and nondestructive testing of hybrid maize seed purity.

[Quantitative analysis of hybrid maize seed purity using near infrared spectroscopy].

A quantitative identification model for testing the purity of hybrid maize seeds was built by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy with quantitative partial least squares (QPLS). The NIR spectra of 123 seeds powder samples (Nongda108 and mother178) with the purity of 600-100% were collected using MPA spectrometer. All samples were divided into two groups: calibration set (82 samples) and validation set (41 samples). Synergy interval partial least squares (SiPLSu) was used for selecting effective spectral regions and building models. The influences of different spectral regions and different calibration samples on the prediction results and different main components were compared. The result showed that the spectral regions 6 000 8 000, 6 000-9 000 and 6 000-10 000 cm(-1) all had better prediction results (R2 over 95%). Spectral region 6 000-10 000 cm(-1) was regarded the optimum spectral region for building the model with less main components(8), and the determination coefficient (R2) of calibration and validation sets were 96.61% and 97.67% respectively, SEC (standard error of calibration) and SEP (standard error of prediction) were 2.15% and 1.78% respectively, RSDs (relative standard deviation) were 2.04% and 1.94% respectively. Even with different calibration samples, the average determination coefficients (R2) of calibration and validation sets were 96.21% and 95.75%, SEC (standard error of calibration) and SEP (standard error of prediction) were 2.29% and 2.23% respectively, RSDs (relative standard deviation) were 2.81% and 2.73% respectively, which further proved the model's stability. With the increase in the number of main components, the identification rates in calibration set and validation set gradually increased, when the number of main components reached 8, the model determination coefficients reached the best (96.61% and 97.67%), and related coefficients of true value and predicted value were 98.29% and 98.87% respectively. The results have important value for rapid and accurate testing of hybrid maize seed purity.

[Adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation with 94 cases report].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the donor evaluation, surgical protocol, and the complication for the adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (AALDLT). METHODS: There were 94 cases of AALDLT were performed by the same surgical team from January 2007 to August 2010. Patients aged from 18 to 74 years. Donors aged from 19 to 60 years. All the 94 cases' operation protocol as following, 2 cases with left lobe liver graft, 92 cases with right lobe graft, 44 cases with middle hepatic vein (MHV) harvested, and 48 cases without MHV. Assessment methods of donors, postoperative complications and the current survival were analyzed. RESULTS: All the donors were discharged with good recovery, complication incidence of donor was 7.4%. Median time of follow-up was 37 months. Eight patients were died during follow-up, 1-year patient survival rate was 95.7%, and graft survival rate was 94.4%. One case complicated with small-for-size syndrome, 1 case was performed re-transplantation for acute hepatic necrosis, 24 patients (25.5%) showed biliary anastomotic stenosis defined cholangiography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography examination, and 9 patients (9.6%) showed abnormal liver function. CONCLUSIONS: Living donor liver transplantation is an effective treatment method for end-stage liver disease, with accurate evaluation preoperative, a reasonable surgical approach, whether using the left or right lobe liver graft, with or without middle hepatic vein in AALDLT can effectively ensure the donor and recipient safety.