Abstract: An image input section reads an image on a document, and simultaneously output image data of a plurality of pixels. An input image converting section generates second image data continuing in a sub-scanning direction based on image data. An image processing section provides a predetermined image processing to the image data to generate third image data. An image output section forms a duplicating image of an image on the document by simultaneously using a plurality of laser devices corresponding to each pixel based on the third image data. Image data in which a plurality of pixels is simultaneously input is arrayed and adjusted to be applied to a multi-beam output. As a result, an image processing for obtaining a high quality of the duplicating image can be performed at high speed.

Abstract: Compositions comprising antimicrobial peptides are provided. The peptides are derivatives of tachyplesin having amino acid substitutions in which the four cysteine residues are replaced with hydrophobic amino acids. The compositions are useful in methods of the control of fungal and bacterial activity in agricultural and medical applications. Methods for making and using the compounds of the invention are additionally provided.

Abstract: Derivatives of .alpha.-hordothionin made by position-specific substitution with lysine residues provide lysine enrichment while retaining the antifungal activity of the parent compound.

Abstract: Compounds which are derived from Bauhinia purpurea lectin by replacement of one or more lysine residues in the molecule with other amino acid residues which either preserve the positive charge at the position of the substitution or provide a neutral residue at the position of the substitution are effective larvicides against insects such as European corn borer.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus capable of easily removing or suppressing an area which need not be copied in an image. A characteristic amount calculation section detects rectangular areas physically/logically connected to each other from an image read by a scanner, and calculates unnecessary area information required to detect the characteristic amount and unnecessary area of the rectangular areas. An unnecessary area identifying section compares the characteristic amount of each object with unnecessary area identifying reference information based on the unnecessary area information to detect whether the object is an unnecessary area. An output processing section removes or filters the detected unnecessary area according to a specified method to store the unnecessary area in an output image storage section.

Abstract: Derivatives of .alpha.-hordothionin made by position-specific substitution with threonine residues provide threonine in plants.

Abstract: Derivatives of .alpha.-hordothionin made by position-specific substitution with methionine residues provide methionine enrichment in plants.

Abstract: A method for commercial production of aprotinin entails heterologous expression of the protein in plants, preferably at a level such that aprotinin accounts for at least 0.1% of the total extracted protein. An aprotinin-expressing plant also has potential of increased insecticidal resistance by virtue of producing the protein. A genetic map of the integration locus allows identification of plants derived from the transgenic plant. This approach also reveals genetic loci on a plant chromosome that support high levels of gene expression and can be used as site of integration for expression of other genes of interest.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a circuit for correcting a first image data of a target pixel corresponding to a correction amount, a circuit for generating a third image data on the basis of the second image data and a preset threshold value, the third image data having a gradation value less than one of the second image data, a circuit for comparing the second image data with the third image data to output a difference value therebetween, and a circuit for deriving the correction amount. based on the difference value to randomly diffuse the difference value to the peripheral portion of the target pixel and supplying the correction amount to the correcting circuit.

Abstract: Synthetic polypeptides exhibiting amphipathic alpha-helices provide cell-expressible antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: Derivatives of .alpha.-hordothionin made by position-specific substitution with methionine residues provide methionine enrichment in plants while retaining the anti-pathogenic activity of the parent compound.

Abstract: A binarization circuit binarizes a pixel signal indicative of an input image, using binarizing processing capable of preserving a gradation of a photograph image. A run expansion circuit performs processing for expanding black pixels included in a binary image to obtain runs, and outputting a run expansion signal. A labelling circuit integrates connected runs into an integrated region (a label) by means of a circumscribing-rectangle extraction circuit, and obtains the position and the size of a rectangle which circumscribes each integrated region, thereby outputting the obtained data as circumscribing-rectangle data. A determination circuit determines whether the integrated region is a text region or a photograph (continuous) region from the size and the configuration of the circumscribing rectangle, and outputs a determination signal.

Abstract: In multi-gradation level processing performed by using an ordered dither scheme, offset information between one dither matrix value and dither matrices is set, and all multi-gradation level threshold values are calculated from the basic dither matrix values and the offset information. Multi-gradation level processing is performed by comparing an input image with the calculated threshold values. With this operation in the multi-gradation level processing performed by the ordered dither scheme, all the dither threshold values required for the multi-gradation level processing are generated from the basic dither matrix information and the offset information.

Abstract: From input document data there are detected the features of the document, such as the top, bottom, left and right margins, the character space, the line space, the word space, the column space, the size and coordinates of each character, and the like. Values by which the spaces thus detected, including the character space and the line space, are to be adjusted, and a ratio at which to reduce or enlarge the characters are calculated from the features of the document and the minimum margins, the minimum character size and the like preset based on the size of the medium used in an output device such as laser printer. The coordinates of each character on the document is changed in accordance with these values and the character-reducing or -enlarging ratio. The size of the input image is changed based on the original and changed coordinates of each character.

Abstract: Synthetic polypeptides exhibiting amphipathic alpha-helices provide cell-expressible antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: Certain specific derivatives of the 17-amino acid peptide tachyplesin has been found to have antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens. In a preferred embodiment, plant resistance to diseases caused by plant pathogens which are susceptible to these peptides is produced by inserting into the cells of a plant a gene whose expression causes production of one or more of the peptides of this invention in the plant in antimicrobial amounts.

Abstract: Two synthetic polypeptides provide cell-expressible antifungal activity.

Abstract: Selected plant lectins have been found to be larvicidal against a number of common insect pests of agricultural crops. In a preferred embodiment, plant resistance to these insects is produced by inserting into the cells of a plant a gene whose expression causes production of one or more of these lectins in larvicidal amounts.