Optical spectrum analyzers and typical applications in astronomy and remote sensing.

Scientists are increasingly relying on astronomical and remote sensing technologies to gain deeper insights into the Earth and the universe. In these fields, the optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) or spectrometer plays a pivotal role. This Review offers a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles, key parameters, and applications of various branches of traditional OSAs, including prisms, gratings, interferometers, tunable filters, and reconstructive spectrometers. We specifically focus on their latest major applications in astronomy and remote sensing. Additionally, we present a mathematical model of the generalized reconstructive spectrometer and provide a summary of its principles pertaining to spectral mapping, reconstruction, and imaging. Despite its limited aperture and étendue, the reconstructive spectrometer holds great potential for future use in astronomy and remote sensing due to its compact size and exceptional ultrahigh spectral resolution.

Ecology of the free-living stages of Trichostrongylid parasites of sheep.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) is dictated by environmental conditions which influence the survival, development, and migration rates of the free-living stages. While the faecal pellet is the most important micro-environment for GINs, limited data on the impact of temperature and faecal water content (FWC) on their survival, development, and migration limits accurate prediction of nematode pasture infectivity. This study investigated the impact of temperature and FWC on the dynamics of the free-living stages of T. vitrinus, T. colubriformis and T. circumcincta by incubating faecal samples from sheep harbouring mono-specific infection of the GINs in temperature-controlled incubators at constant temperatures ranging from 0° to 40°C and nominal target FWCs ranging from 0% to 80% for 8 days. The different life cycle stages (eggs, pre-infective larvae, intra-pellet infective larvae and extra-pellet infective larvae) were enumerated each day using a modified McMaster technique. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess the impact of environmental effects on the recovery of each life cycle stage. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the life cycle stage tallies between species. Survival and development of each life cycle stage were elucidated by fitting the obtained experimental data to an existing mathematical model which described the dynamics of the free-living stages of the GIN lifecycle. Development of eggs to infective larvae were only observed at target temperatures of 20 and 30ºC (and some development at 40 °C for T. colubriformis). This study predicted development of a minimum of 1% of eggs to intra-pellet infective larvae at temperature ranges of 9-39, 10-39 and 10-38ºC with optimum development occurring at 23, 23 and 20ºC for T. vitrinus, T. circumcincta and T. colubriformis, respectively. Development of eggs to intra-pellet infective larvae was observed at nominal FWC targets of 20% and above where increasing FWC up to 60% resulted in increased tallies of intra-pellet infective larvae. The model predicted that development of eggs to intra-pellet infective larvae required a minimum FWC of 13%, 16% and 17% for T. circumcincta, T. colubriformis and T. vitrinus respectively with higher FWC requirements for migration out of the faecal pellets. Development of T. circumcincta eggs to infective larvae was slower than the other species with only 33% of the T. circumcincta eggs predicted to develop to infective larvae at its optimum temperature and FWC as compared to 47% for T. vitrinus and 56% for T. colubriformis.

Effects of outdoor ranging on external and internal health parameters for hens from different rearing enrichments.

In Australia, free-range layer pullets are typically reared indoors, but adult layers go outdoors, and this mismatch might reduce adaptation in laying environments. Enrichments during rearing may optimise pullet development and subsequent welfare as adult free-range hens. In the outdoor environment, hens may have greater opportunities for exercise and natural behaviours which might contribute to improved health and welfare. However, the outdoor environment may also result in potential exposure to parasites and pathogens. Individual variation in range use may thus dictate individual health and welfare. This study was conducted to evaluate whether adult hens varied in their external and internal health due to rearing enrichments and following variation in range use. A total of 1386 Hy-Line Brown® chicks were reared indoors across 16 weeks with three enrichment treatments including a control group with standard housing conditions, a novelty group providing novel objects that changed weekly, and a structural group with custom-designed structures to increase spatial navigation and perching. At 16 weeks of age the pullets were moved to a free-range system and housed in nine identical pens within their rearing treatments. All hens were leg-banded with microchips and daily ranging was assessed from 25 to 64 weeks via radio-frequency identification technology. At 64-65 weeks of age, 307 hens were selected based on their range use patterns across 54 days up to 64 weeks: indoor (no ranging), low outdoor (1.4 h or less daily), and high outdoor (5.2-9 h daily). The external and internal health and welfare parameters were evaluated via external assessment of body weight, plumage, toenails, pecking wounds, illness, and post-mortem assessment of internal organs and keel bones including whole-body CT scanning for body composition. The control hens had the lowest feather coverage (p < 0.0001) and a higher number of comb wounds (P = 0.03) than the novelty hens. The high outdoor rangers had fewer comb wounds than the indoor hens (P = 0.04), the shortest toenails (p < 0.0001) and the most feather coverage (p < 0.0001), but lower body weight (p < 0.0001) than the indoor hens. High outdoor ranging decreased both body fat and muscle (both p < 0.0001). The novelty group had lower spleen weights than the control hens (P = 0.01) but neither group differed from the structural hens. The high outdoor hens showed the highest spleen (P = 0.01) and empty gizzard weights (P = 0.04). Both the rearing enrichments and ranging had no effect on keel bone damage (all P ≥ 0.19). There were no significant interactions between rearing treatments and ranging patterns for any of the health and welfare parameters measured in this study (P ≥ 0.07). Overall, rearing enrichments had some effects on hen health and welfare at the later stages of the production cycle but subsequent range use patterns had the greatest impact.

[Serial changes in biomarkers in pulmonary and extrapulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome].

Objective: To compare the serial changes of circulating angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), surfactant protein D (SP-D) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product (sRAGE) in patients with pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and extrapulmonary ARDS. Methods: A total of 36 eligible patients with ARDS were included from the Department of Respiratory Intensive Care Unit(RCU) and Department of Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the Central Hospital of Wuhan, during April 2017 to February 2018, and divided into pulmonary ARDS group (n=20) and extrapulmonary ARDS group (n=16) according to primary causes. The levels of Ang-2, SP-D and sRAGE in serum of each group were measured on Day 1, 4 and 7 after diagnosis. Results: The serum level of Ang-2 in extrapulmonary ARDS group declined gradually during the course. The serum level of Ang-2 on Day 1 was significantly higher than that on Day 7 [2 801 (1 386, 7 526) vs 1 461 (737, 2 135) ng/L, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in serum levels of Ang-2 on Day 1, 4, 7 in pulmonary ARDS group [1 462 (545, 3 715) vs 1 353 (659, 5 847) vs1 616 (754, 3 460) ng/L, all P>0.05]. There was no significant difference in serum levels of SP-D on Day 1,4, 7 in each group [pulmonary ARDS group: 5.6(1.8, 14.0) vs 5.7(1.8, 14.5) vs 7.9(3.0, 16.8) mg/L, all P>0.05; extrapulmonary ARDS group: 3.4(0.5, 9.1) vs 1.6(0.6, 6.3) vs 1.6(0.7, 7.9)mg/L, all P>0.05]. The serum level of sRAGE in each group declined gradually during the course. The serum level of sRAGE on Day 1 in each group was significantly higher than that on Day 7 [pulmonary ARDS group: 328(107, 595) vs 66 (50,171) ng/L, extrapulmonary ARDS group: 237 (98, 410) vs 81 (38, 154) ng/L, all P<0.05]. Conclusion: The serum level of Ang-2 in extrapulmonary ARDS declines significantly in the early stage of disease, while there is no significant difference in that of pulmonary ARDS.

Dietary energy, digestible lysine, and available phosphorus levels affect growth performance, carcass traits, and amino acid digestibility of broilers.

A 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design was used to investigate the interaction effect of dietary digestible lysine (dLys, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5 g/kg), apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn, 12.77, 13.19, 13.61 MJ/kg) and available P (avP, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 g/kg) levels on performance and amino acid (AA) digestibility of Ross 308 male broilers (n = 1,050) from d 14 to 34. The design consisted of 15 treatments each replicated 5 times with 12 birds per replicate. On d 34, 3 birds were sampled from each pen to collect ileal digesta (pooled per pen) to analyze AA. Response surface was fitted by first-, second-, or third-degree polynomial regressions in JMP statistical software v. 12.0.1. Feed intake (FI), weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were affected by dLys (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01), AMEn (linear, P < 0.01) and AMEn × avP (P < 0.01). Increased dLys increased FI but increased AMEn decreased FI in the birds fed the low-avP diet. However, when the avP level in the diet was increased, FI decreased to 13 MJ/kg AMEn and remained constant thereafter. Increased dLys increased WG whereas an increase in AMEn decreased WG in the birds fed the low-avP diet but had no effect on WG in those fed the high-avP diet. Increased dLys decreased FCR whereas increased AMEn decreased FCR in the birds fed the low-avP diet but had no effect on FCR in those fed the high-avP diet. Increased dLys increased breast yield percentage (linear, P < 0.01 and quadratic, P < 0.05) whereas increased AMEn decreased breast yield percentage (linear, P < 0.01). Dietary levels of dLys or avP had positive, linear effects on apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of methionine (P < 0.01) and threonine (P < 0.01) but had no effect on other AA (P > 0.05). These results indicate that increasing dLys levels above current industry standard would improve broiler performance irrespective of AMEn or avP levels of the diet.

[Research of the biomarkers in pulmonary and extrapulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome].

Objective: To explore the biomarkers that applied to pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and extrapulmonary ARDS respectively. Methods: A total of 49 eligible patients with ARDS were selected from Department of Respiratory intensive care unite (ICU) , Department of General ICU and Department of Emergency ICU, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, during April 2015 and February 2016, and divided into pulmonary ARDS group (n=26) and extrapulmonary ARDS group (n=23) according to primary causes. Totally 19 cases from healthy examination personnel were served as control. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅲ (APACHE Ⅲ) score and lung injury score of all hospitalized patients were completed within 24 hours after the diagnosis of ARDS and the serum levels of angiogenin2 (Ang-2) , surfactant protein D (SP-D), soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) were measured. Then the 28-day outcomes were observed. The serum levels of the biomarkers were compared between each group and correlation analysis was conducted between different indexes. Finally, The relationship between the four biomarkers and the outcome of each group was analyzed. Results: The serum level of Ang-2 in pulmonary ARDS group and extrapulmonary ARDS group was significantly higher than that in control group[1 462 (569, 3 638) and 4 568 (2 236, 8 457) vs 460 (389, 578) ng/L, all P<0.05], and the serum level of Ang-2 was significantly higher in extrapulmonary ARDS group than that in pulmonary ARDS group (P<0.05). The serum level of SP-D in pulmonary ARDS group and extrapulmonary ARDS group was significantly higher than that in control group[5.9 (2.5, 22.7) mg/L and 3.7 (1.7, 6.5) vs 1.9 (0.6, 4.4) mg/L, all P<0.05], and the serum level of SP-D was significantly higher in pulmonary ARDS group than that in extrapulmonary ARDS group (P<0.05). The serum level of sRAGE in pulmonary ARDS group and extrapulmonary ARDS group was significantly higher than that in control group[238 (101, 583) and 229 (114, 443) vs 117 (88, 176) ng/L, all P<0.05]. The serum level of KL-6 in pulmonary ARDS group was significantly higher than that in control group[10 435 (3 401, 17 607) vs 4 780 (3 962, 5 320) U/L, P<0.05]. Increased serum levels of SP-D (OR=1.089, 95% CI: 1.001-1.085) and KL-6 (OR=1.206, 95% CI: 1.016-1.432) at the early stage were the independent prognostic factors for the 28-day mortality for pulmonary ARDS. Advanced age (OR=2.622, 95% CI: 1.046-6.574) was the independent prognostic factor for the 28-day mortality for extrapulmonary ARDS. Conclusion: SP-D and KL-6 may be the serum biomarkers of pulmonary ARDS and Ang-2 may be the serum biomarker of extrapulmonary ARDS.

Modelling the impacts of pasture contamination and stocking rate for the development of targeted selective treatment strategies for Ostertagia ostertagi infection in calves.

A simulation study was carried out to assess whether variation in pasture contamination or stocking rate impact upon the optimal design of targeted selective treatment (TST) strategies. Two methods of TST implementation were considered: 1) treatment of a fixed percentage of a herd according to a given phenotypic trait, or 2) treatment of individuals that exceeded a threshold value for a given phenotypic trait. Four phenotypic traits, on which to base treatment were considered: 1) average daily bodyweight gain, 2) faecal egg count, 3) plasma pepsinogen, or 4) random selection. Each implementation method (fixed percentage or threshold treatment) and determinant criteria (phenotypic trait) was assessed in terms of benefit per R (BPR), the ratio of average benefit in weight gain to change in frequency of resistance alleles R (relative to an untreated population). The impact of pasture contamination on optimal TST strategy design was investigated by setting the initial pasture contamination to 100, 200 or 500 O. ostertagi L3/kg DM herbage; stocking rate was investigated at a low (3calves/ha), conventional (5 calves/ha) or high (7 calves/ha) stocking rates. When treating a fixed percentage of the herd, treatments according to plasma pepsinogen or random selection were identified as the most beneficial (i.e. resulted in the greatest BPR) for all levels of initial pasture contamination and all stocking rates. Conversely when treatments were administered according to threshold values ADG was most beneficial, and was identified as the best TST strategy (i.e. resulted in the greatest overall BPR) for all levels of initial pasture contamination and all stocking rates.

Modelling the consequences of targeted selective treatment strategies on performance and emergence of anthelmintic resistance amongst grazing calves.

The development of anthelmintic resistance by helminths can be slowed by maintaining refugia on pasture or in untreated hosts. Targeted selective treatments (TST) may achieve this through the treatment only of individuals that would benefit most from anthelmintic, according to certain criteria. However TST consequences on cattle are uncertain, mainly due to difficulties of comparison between alternative strategies. We developed a mathematical model to compare: 1) the most 'beneficial' indicator for treatment selection and 2) the method of selection of calves exposed to Ostertagia ostertagi, i.e. treating a fixed percentage of the population with the lowest (or highest) indicator values versus treating individuals who exceed (or are below) a given indicator threshold. The indicators evaluated were average daily gain (ADG), faecal egg counts (FEC), plasma pepsinogen, combined FEC and plasma pepsinogen, versus random selection of individuals. Treatment success was assessed in terms of benefit per R (BPR), the ratio of average benefit in weight gain to change in frequency of resistance alleles R (relative to an untreated population). The optimal indicator in terms of BPR for fixed percentages of calves treated was plasma pepsinogen and the worst ADG; in the latter case treatment was applied to some individuals who were not in need of treatment. The reverse was found when calves were treated according to threshold criteria, with ADG being the best target indicator for treatment. This was also the most beneficial strategy overall, with a significantly higher BPR value than any other strategy, but its degree of success depended on the chosen threshold of the indicator. The study shows strong support for TST, with all strategies showing improvements on calves treated selectively, compared with whole-herd treatment at 3, 8, 13 weeks post-turnout. The developed model appeared capable of assessing the consequences of other TST strategies on calf populations.

Which is the best phenotypic trait for use in a targeted selective treatment strategy for growing lambs in temperate climates?

Targeted selective treatment (TST) requires the ability to identify the animals for which anthelmintic treatment will result in the greatest benefit to the entire flock. Various phenotypic traits have previously been suggested as determinant criteria for TST; however, the weight gain benefit and impact on anthelmintic efficacy for each determinant criterion is expected to be dependent upon the level of nematode challenge and the timing of anthelmintic treatment. A mathematical model was used to simulate a population of 10,000 parasitologically naïve Scottish Blackface lambs (with heritable variation in host-parasite interactions) grazing on medium-quality pasture (grazing density=30 lambs/ha, crude protein=140g/kg DM, metabolisable energy=10MJ/kg DM) with an initial larval contamination of 1000, 3000 or 5000 Teladorsagia circumcincta L3/kg DM. Anthelmintic drenches were administered to 0, 50 or 100% of the population on a single occasion. The day of anthelmintic treatment was independently modelled for every day within the 121day simulation. Where TST scenarios were simulated (50% treated), lambs were either chosen by random selection or according to highest faecal egg count (FEC, eggs/g DM faeces), lowest live weight (LW, kg) or lowest growth rate (kg/day). Average lamb empty body weight (kg) and the resistance (R) allele frequency amongst the parasite population on pasture were recorded at slaughter (day 121) for each scenario. Average weight gain benefit and increase in R allele frequency for each determinant criterion, level of initial larval contamination and day of anthelmintic treatment were calculated by comparison to a non-treated population. Determinant criteria were evaluated according to average weight gain benefit divided by increase in R allele frequency to determine the benefit per R. Whilst positive phenotypic correlations were predicted between worm burden and FEC; using LW as the determinant criterion provided the greatest benefit per R for all levels of initial larval contamination and day of anthelmintic treatment. Hence, LW was identified as the best determinant criterion for use in a TST regime. This study supports the use of TST strategies as benefit per R predictions for all determinant criteria were greater than those predicted for the 100% treatment group, representing an increased long-term productive benefit resulting from the maintenance of anthelmintic efficacy. Whilst not included in this study, the model could be extended to consider other parasite species and host breed parameters, variation in climatic influences on larval availability and grass growth, repeated anthelmintic treatments and variable proportional flock treatments.

A stochastic model to investigate the effects of control strategies on calves exposed to Ostertagia ostertagi.

Predicting the effectiveness of parasite control strategies requires accounting for the responses of individual hosts and the epidemiology of parasite supra- and infra-populations. The first objective was to develop a stochastic model that predicted the parasitological interactions within a group of first season grazing calves challenged by Ostertagia ostertagi, by considering phenotypic variation amongst the calves and variation in parasite infra-population. Model behaviour was assessed using variations in parasite supra-population and calf stocking rate. The model showed the initial pasture infection level to have little impact on parasitological output traits, such as worm burdens and FEC, or overall performance of calves, whereas increasing stocking rate had a disproportionately large effect on both parasitological and performance traits. Model predictions were compared with published data taken from experiments on common control strategies, such as reducing stocking rates, the 'dose and move' strategy and strategic treatment with anthelmintic at specific times. Model predictions showed in most cases reasonable agreement with observations, supporting model robustness. The stochastic model developed is flexible, with the potential to predict the consequences of other nematode control strategies, such as targeted selective treatments on groups of grazing calves.

Go with the flow-biology and genetics of the lactation cycle.

Lactation is a dynamic process, which evolved to meet dietary demands of growing offspring. At the same time, the mother's metabolism changes to meet the high requirements of nutrient supply to the offspring. Through strong artificial selection, the strain of milk production on dairy cows is often associated with impaired health and fertility. This led to the incorporation of functional traits into breeding aims to counteract this negative association. Potentially, distributing the total quantity of milk per lactation cycle more equally over time could reduce the peak of physiological strain and improve health and fertility. During lactation many factors affect the production of milk: food intake; digestion, absorption, and transportation of nutrients; blood glucose levels; activity of cells in the mammary gland, liver, and adipose tissue; synthesis of proteins and fat in the secretory cells; and the metabolic and regulatory pathways that provide fatty acids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. Whilst the endocrine regulation and physiology of the dynamic process of milk production seems to be understood, the genetics that underlie these dynamics are still to be uncovered. Modeling of longitudinal traits and estimating the change in additive genetic variation over time has shown that the genetic contribution to the expression of a trait depends on the considered time-point. Such time-dependent studies could contribute to the discovery of missing heritability. Only very few studies have estimated exact gene and marker effects at different time-points during lactation. The most prominent gene affecting milk yield and milk fat, DGAT1, exhibits its main effects after peak production, whilst the casein genes have larger effects in early lactation. Understanding the physiological dynamics and elucidating the time-dependent genetic effects behind dynamically expressed traits will contribute to selection decisions to further improve productive and healthy breeding populations.

Can we use genetic and genomic approaches to identify candidate animals for targeted selective treatment.

Estimated breeding values (EBV) for faecal egg count (FEC) and genetic markers for host resistance to nematodes may be used to identify resistant animals for selective breeding programmes. Similarly, targeted selective treatment (TST) requires the ability to identify the animals that will benefit most from anthelmintic treatment. A mathematical model was used to combine the concepts and evaluate the potential of using genetic-based methods to identify animals for a TST regime. EBVs obtained by genomic prediction were predicted to be the best determinant criterion for TST in terms of the impact on average empty body weight and average FEC, whereas pedigree-based EBVs for FEC were predicted to be marginally worse than using phenotypic FEC as a determinant criterion. Whilst each method has financial implications, if the identification of host resistance is incorporated into a wider genomic selection indices or selective breeding programmes, then genetic or genomic information may be plausibly included in TST regimes.

Modelling the short- and long-term impacts of drenching frequency and targeted selective treatment on the performance of grazing lambs and the emergence of anthelmintic resistance.

Refugia-based treatment strategies aim to prolong anthelmintic efficacy by maintaining a parasite population unexposed to anthelmintics. Targeted selective treatment (TST) achieves this by treating only animals that will benefit most from treatment, using a determinant criterion (DC). We developed a mathematical model to compare various traits proposed as DC, and investigate impacts of TST and drenching frequency on sheep performance and anthelmintic resistance. Short term, decreasing the proportion of animals drenched reduced benefits of anthelmintic treatment, assessed by empty body weight (EBW), but decreased the rate of anthelmintic resistance development; each consecutive drenching had a reduced impact on average EBW and an increased impact on the rate of anthelmintic resistance emergences. The optimal DC was fecal egg count, maintaining the highest average EBW when reducing the proportion of animals drenched. Long-term, reducing the proportion of animals drenched had little impact on total weight gain benefits, across animals and years, whilst reducing drenching frequency increased it. Decreasing the frequency and proportion of animals drenched were both predicted to increase the duration of anthelmintic efficacy but reduce the total number of drenches administered before resistance was observed. TST and frequency of drenching may lead to different benefits in the short versus long term.

In silico exploration of the mechanisms that underlie parasite-induced anorexia in sheep.

A model was used to investigate two mechanisms describing reductions in food intake (anorexia) observed during gastrointestinal parasitism in lambs, and to explore relationships between anorexia and food composition. The mechanisms were either a reduction in intrinsic growth rate, leading to a consequent reduction in food intake (mechanism 1; M1), or a direct reduction in food intake (mechanism 2; M2). For both mechanisms, lambs growing from 2 to 6 months of age were modelled, with one of three levels of trickle challenge with Teladorsagia circumcincta. Scenarios were simulated for feeds varying in either protein or energy content, or both. Major differences were found between the predictions resulting from M1 and M2 on low-energy foods that constrained the intake of uninfected lambs through bulk. With M1, food intake was governed by the first operating constraint, whereas with M2 an additivity of constraints was observed. On the other foods, the duration of anorexia increased with increasing energy content of feed for M1, whilst the duration of anorexia decreased with increasing protein content of feed for M2.For foods that did not have an impact upon lambs' gastrointestinal tract capacity, published data were consistent with predictions of M2. Due to an absence of experimental data, no conclusions could be drawn for relationships between anorexia and food composition in the presence of other limiting constraints, such as bulk for low-energy foods. In conclusion, available experimental data and model predictions were consistent with anorexia having an impact directly on food intake, and with impacts of anorexia increasing with decreasing protein content.

QTL mapping for grain filling rate and yield-related traits in RILs of the Chinese winter wheat population Heshangmai x Yu8679.

A set of 142 winter wheat recombinant inbred lines (RILs) deriving from the cross Heshangmai x Yu8679 were tried in four ecological environments during the seasons 2006 and 2007. Nine agronomic traits comprising mean grain filling rate (GFR(mean)), maximum grain filling rate (GFR(max)), grain filling duration (GFD), grain number per ear (GNE), grain weight per ear (GWE), flowering time (FT), maturation time (MT), plant height (PHT) and thousand grain weight (TGW) were evaluated in Beijing (2006 and 2007), Chengdu (2007) and Hefei (2007). A genetic map comprising 173 SSR markers and two EST markers was generated. Based on the genetic map and phenotypic data, quantitative trait loci (QTL) were mapped for these agronomic traits. A total of 99 putative QTLs were identified for the nine traits over four environments except GFD, PHT and MT, measured in two environments (BJ07 and CD07), respectively. Of the QTL detected, 17 for GFR(mean), 16 for GFR(max), 21 for TGW and 10 for GWE involving the chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2A, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4D, 5A, 5B, 6D and 7D were identified. Moreover, 13 genomic regions showing pleiotropic effects were detected in chromosomes 1A, 1B, 1D, 2A, 2B, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4B, 4D, 5B, 6D and 7D; these QTL revealing pleiotropic effects may be informative for a better understanding of the genetic basis of grain filling rate and other yield-related traits, and represent potential targets for multi-trait marker aided selection in wheat.

[Appropriate dosage for maintaining effective serum level at night after taking one dose of magnesium valproate with separate measurements of serum Mg++ concentration].

Gas chromatography was used for monitoring the serum valproate (VPA) levels in 33 epileptic adults. They were divided into 3 groups treated with Mg-VPA in dosage of 800 mg, 600 mg and 400mg respectively at 7 pm in an attempt to find out an appropriate dosage with which the effective serum level could be maintained in the night time for those patients with only nocturnal seizures. It was shown that from the beginning of the treatment with a dosing regimen of 800 mg as well as one week after the treatment with a dosing regimen of 600 mg at 7 pm each day, the serum VPA levels of more than 50 micrograms/ml throughout the night could be procurred. The serum Mg++ concentrations of 20 normal and 24 epileptic adults were measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The serum Mg++ concentrations were found to be within normal values (2.0-3.0 mg%). The differences of the data obtained from these measurements between the normal and epileptic adults as well as those before and after the treatment were statistically insignificant.

Studies of haemopoietic stem cells and microenvironment in chronic irradiated mice.

Mice were irradiated at a dose rate of 70 rad per day for 25 days. Changes in properties and functions of haemopoietic stem cells and microenvironment were observed through a period of 12 months after termination of continuous irradiation. It was shown that the radiation damage of haemopoietic stem cells played an important role in the radiation-induced damage of haemopoiesis. This was further supported by the fact that transplantation of syngeneic bone marrow cells immediately after termination of continuous irradiation at 70 rad per day for 25 days would greatly improve the haemopoietic function of the irradiated mice, including the total recovery of CFU-S and numbers in the bone marrow and cell counts in the peripheral blood.