Rice, one of the world's most important food plants, has important syntenic relationships with the other cereal species and is a model plant for the grasses. Here we present a map-based, finished quality sequence that covers 95% of the 389 Mb genome, including virtually all of the euchromatin and two complete centromeres. A total of 37,544 nontransposable-element-related protein-coding genes were identified, of which 71% had a putative homologue in Arabidopsis. In a reciprocal analysis, 90% of the Arabidopsis proteins had a putative homologue in the predicted rice proteome. Twenty-nine per cent of the 37,544 predicted genes appear in clustered gene families. The number and classes of transposable elements found in the rice genome are consistent with the expansion of syntenic regions in the maize and sorghum genomes. We find evidence for widespread and recurrent gene transfer from the organelles to the nuclear chromosomes. The map-based sequence has proven useful for the identification of genes underlying agronomic traits. The additional single-nucleotide polymorphisms and simple sequence repeats identified in our study should accelerate improvements in rice production.

Summary Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be produced by various solid tumours and is thought to be involved in microvascular permeability and/or angiogenesis. To examine the relationship between VEGF expression in ovarian neoplasms and clinicopathological factors or patient survival, expression of VEGF was analysed immunohistochemically in 110 epithelial ovarian tumours. In addition, VEGF levels in the tumour fluid (17 patients), ascites (12 patients) and sera (38 patients) were determined using enzyme immunoassay. Positive immunostaining for VEGF was observed in 97% (68 out of 70) of ovarian carcinomas, which was significantly higher than that of tumours of low malignant potential (LMP) (13 out of 25; 52%) and benign cystadenomas (5 out of 15; 33%) (P < 0.01). In ovarian carcinomas, strong VEGF immunostaining was also observed more frequently in tumours of clear cell type (P < 0.05) in the advanced stage of disease (P < 0.05) and with positive peritoneal cytology (P < 0.01). Patients with strong VEGF staining had poorer survival rates than those with weak or no immunostaining for VEGF (P < 0.01). These findings suggest that strong VEGF expression plays an important role in the tumour progression of ovarian carcinoma. The enzyme immunoassay revealed higher serum VEGF levels in carcinoma patients than those in patients with LMP or benign tumours (P < 0.01). Serum VEGF levels decreased after the successful removal of tumours in ovarian cancer patients and, in one patient, the serum VEGF level was re-elevated during relapse. Therefore, serum VEGF could be used as a marker for monitoring the clinical course of ovarian cancer patients.

The mediastinal infection, the extent of which has been accurately determined by computed tomograms, necessitates radical cervicotomy followed by pleuromediastinal drainage. Situations where infection has spread to posterior medisatinum, particularly when it reaches in the level of the carina (descending necrotizing mediastinitis-type I), may not always require aggressive mediastinal drainage. In comparison, diffuse descending necrotizing mediastinitis-Type IIB demands complete mediastinal drainage with debridement via thoracotomy. Subxiphoidal mediastinal drainage without sternotomy may provide adequate drainage in diffuse descending necrotizing mediastinitis-Type IIA.

To determine the chromosomal positions of expressed rice genes, we have performed an expressed sequence tag (EST) mapping project by polymerase chain reaction-based yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) screening. Specific primers designed from 6713 unique EST sequences derived from 19 cDNA libraries were screened on 4387 YAC clones and used for map construction in combination with genetic analysis. Here, we describe the establishment of a comprehensive YAC-based rice transcript map that contains 6591 EST sites and covers 80.8% of the rice genome. Chromosomes 1, 2, and 3 have relatively high EST densities, approximately twice those of chromosomes 11 and 12, and contain 41% of the total EST sites on the map. Most of the EST-dense regions are distributed on the distal regions of each chromosome arm. Genomic regions flanking the centromeres for most of the chromosomes have lower EST density. Recombination frequency in these regions is suppressed significantly. Our EST mapping also shows that 40% of the assigned ESTs occupy only approximately 21% of the entire genome. The rice transcript map has been a valuable resource for genetic study, gene isolation, and genome sequencing at the Rice Genome Research Program and should become an important tool for comparative analysis of chromosome structure and evolution among the cereals.

A polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) composite with a large Kerr constant (K∼13.7 nm/V2) is developed and its electro-optic properties characterized. In addition to the reduced operating voltage, this BPLC also exhibits a fast response time (∼1 ms), high contrast ratio (&gt;1000:1), and relatively small hysteresis (&lt;6%). It will undoubtedly accelerate the emergence of BPLC for next-generation display and photonic devices.

Following the proposal of a new structural model by Fenter et al. (Science 1994, 266, 1216, several reports have indicated the existence of dimers in a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) film on Au (111). We synthesized an asymmetric disulfide with hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains, and observed phaseseparated domains in the SAM film with force microscopy after annealing at 100 °C for 8 h. The phase separation clearly shows the cleavage of the S-S bond of the disulfide in the film. Although it cannot be confirmed whether the phase-separated domains consist of exchanged dimers or monomers (thiolates), we obtained new insights into the stability and diffusion of molecules in SAM films.

Brachial plexus injury (BPI) is a severe neurologic injury that causes functional impairment of the affected upper limb. Imaging studies play an essential role in differentiating between preganglionic and postganglionic injuries, a distinction that is crucial for optimal treatment planning. Findings at standard myelography, computed tomographic (CT) myelography, and conventional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging help determine the location and severity of injuries. MR imaging sometimes demonstrates signal intensity changes in the spinal cord, and enhancement of nerve roots and paraspinal muscles at MR imaging indicates the presence of root avulsion injuries. New techniques including MR myelography, diffusion-weighted neurography, and Bezier surface reformation can also be useful in the evaluation and management of BPI. MR myelography with state-of-the-art technology yields remarkably high-quality images, although it cannot replace CT myelography entirely. Diffusion-weighted neurography is a cutting-edge technique for visualizing postganglionic nerve roots. Bezier surface reformation allows the depiction of entire intradural nerve roots on a single image. CT myelography appears to be the preferred initial imaging modality, with standard myelography and contrast material-enhanced MR imaging being recommended as additional studies. Work-up will vary depending on the equipment used, the management policy of peripheral nerve surgeons, and, most important, the individual patient.

Dual responsive molecular brushes consisting of statistical copolymers of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MEO 2 MA) and either methacrylic acid (MAA) or N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) were synthesized by grafting from poly(2-(2-bromoisobutyroyloxy)ethyl methacrylate (PBIEM) macroinitiators using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Copolymer brushes with controlled composition and molecular weights ranging from M n ) 600 000 to 1 400 000 with polydispersity indexes (M w /M n ) between 1.18 and 1.45 were obtained. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of MEO 2 MA-stat-MAA decreased with the increasing molar fraction of MAA in the copolymer in deionized water but increased in buffer solution at pH 7. At pH 9, the hydrophilicity of polymer increased with ionization of carboxylic acid to further raise the LCST. On the other hand, the LCST of MEO 2 MA-stat-DMAEMA copolymers increased with increasing DMAEMA content at pH 4, 7, and 9. A bottle-brush terpolymer prepared from all three comonomers exhibited LCST at pH 4 and 7 but not at pH 9, which can be attributed to the stronger ionization of MAA. The responsive nature of the copolymer is enhanced by the densely graft structure of a brush copolymer.