Heteranthelium is a monotypic genus in the tribe Triticeae represented by an annual diploid species, H. piliferum. The spike of this species is quite different from other members of the tribe. In an attempt to elucidate the genetic relationships to other genera of the tribe, H. piliferum was crossed with various species of Aegilops, Agropyron, Eremopyrum, Henrardia and Hordeum. From these crosses F, hybrids of (i) Heteranthelium piliferum (zx) x Eremopyrum bonaepartis {zx) and (2) Heteranthelium piliferum x Hordeum depressum {^x) were produced. At the same time F, hybrids of (3) Eremopyrum bonaepartis x Hordeum depressum was also obtained. The hybrid under (i) showed subnormal growth and the shape of the spikes was of Eremopyrum-type, while the spikelets were intermediate. Growth of the hybrid under (2) was vigorous and the spike morphology was intermediate between the parents. A solitary spikelet with two glumes and a single spikelet at each rachis node like the Heteranthelium parent was observed but no rudimental spikelets which are the characteristic of Heteranthelium were found. Growth of the hybrid under (3) was very vigorous and the shape of the spikes was of Hordeum type. However, floral construction at each rachis node was very complicated. Rachis nodes with three glumes and a single spikelet were the most common. Sterility of all three combinations was complete. Average chromosome pairing per cell of the Fj hybrids was in (i) 0.04 bivalents and 13.93 univalents, in (2) 0.00 trivalents, 5.06 bivalents and 10.88 univalents, and in (3) 0.00 quadri-valents, o.oi trivalents, 5.50 bivalents and 9.97 univalents. Judging from the chromosome pairing in (i), (2) and (3), a high bivalent formation in (2) and (3) is attributable to autosyndesis of chromosomes derived from the Hordeum parent. It is concluded that there is no homology among the genomes of those three species. Considering morphological features, geographical distribution, intergeneric cross-ability and genetic relationships of Heteranthelium piliferum, it is concluded that the monotypic genus Heteranthelium is a distinct entity in the tribe Triticeae. This taxon has evolved as an annual during the process of adaptation to rather dry habitats of the Mediterranean climatic regions in the course of generic differentiation of the tribe.

To elucidate the sustainable effects of laughter on gene expression, we recruited type 2 diabetic patients who were in-patient for receiving self-management education and examined time-dependent regulation for gene expression by laughter. Two-day experiment was performed. On one day, the patients watched comic video and laughed together with hospital staffs. On the other day, they participated in an inpatient diabetes educational program. Blood samples were collected before and 1.5, 4 h after watching comic video or spending lecture time, and changes in gene expression were comprehensively analyzed by microarray technique. Of the 41,000 genes analyzed, the laughter relatively up-regulated 39 genes, among which, 27 genes were relatively increased in the expression for all the observation period after watching comic video. By functional classification of these genes, 14 genes were found to be related to natural killer cell activity. No genes were included that are directly involved in blood glucose regulation, though successive suppression of postprandial blood glucose levels was observed. These results suggest that the laughter influences the expression of many genes classified into immune responses, and may contribute to amelioration of postprandial blood glucose elevation through a modulation of NK cell activity caused by up-regulation of relating genes.

We have shown that pre-germinated brown rice may have beneficial effects on psychosomatic health.

Cultivated rye (Secale cereale) and its weedy relative (S. segetale) carry B chromosomes. The B chromosomes are known to be morphologically alike at somatic metaphase and they are of the standard type in natural populations. To clarify the cytogenetic relationship between the standard B chromosomes of S. cereale and those of S. segetale, we made four crosses between Afghan S. segetale with two standard B chromosomes as a pistillate parent and Turkish, Iranian, Korean, and Japanese S. cereale, all with two standard B chromosomes as pollen parents. We observed the pairing of B chromosomes at diakinesis in pollen mother cells in all F1 hybrids with four standard B chromosomes, two from each of the pistillate and the pollen parents. The degree of pairing of B chromosomes in all F1 hybrids with four standard B chromosomes was similar to or somewhat lower than, that in parental strains with four standard B chromosomes. These results showed that the standard B chromosomes in S. segetale from Afghanistan are homologous with those in S. cereale from Turkey, Iran, Korea, and Japan. We therefore propose monophyletic origin of the standard B chromosomes in S. segetale and S. cereale.

Starch granules were prepared from seeds of two types of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L., which are native to Nepal. The perisperm of one type of seeds stained reddish‐brown with iodine solution and that of the other blue. Starch granules had round shape of about 1 μm diameter. X‐ray diffraction diagrams were very similar each other and identical with the corresponding ones of rice and maize starches (A‐type). Amylose contents and distribution of average chain‐lengths of amylopectin were determined by gel filtration for isoamylase‐debranched starches. Amylose content was about 14% and 0%, resp. Both types of Amaranthus starches had typical amylopectin nearly identical with those of rice and maize starches. Starch‐granule digestibility by amylases and pasting characteristics of the Amaranthus starches were similar to those of fine starch granules.