Ligand induced cleavage and nuclear localization of the rice XA21 immune receptor

The rice XA21 receptor confers immunity to the Gram-negative bacterial pathogen, _Xanthomonas oryzae_ pv. _oryzae_ (_Xoo_) upon recognition of the conserved microbial signature AxY^S^22. Here, we demonstrate that the intracellular kinase domain of XA21 translocates to the nucleus upon AxY^S^22-mediated perception and that this translocation event is required for XA21-mediated immunity

Trade in waste among developed countries : evidence and origins

In this paper, we examine the determinants of the international trade in waste between developed countries. Data from the 1980s suggest that while the trade in waste between developed and less developed countries has garnered the most attention, the preponderance of waste flows have been among the developed countries. We examine both economic and institutional factors governing incentives to export and import waste. In particular, we find that countries with high cost of disposal tend to export but that low urban-rural population ratios, industry share in GDP, and population densities are also relevant for explaining the amount of waste that crosses national borders.Supported by the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone regulates expression of the DNA damage repair gene, Fanconi anemia A, in pituitary gonadotroph cells

Gonadal function is critically dependant on regulated secretion of the gonadotropin hormones from anterior pituitary gonadotroph cells. Gonadotropin biosynthesis and release is triggered by the binding of hypothalamic GnRH to GnRH receptor expressed on the gonadotroph cell surface. The repertoire of regulatory molecules involved in this process are still being defined. We used the mouse LβT2 gonadotroph cell line, which expresses both gonadotropin hormones, as a model to investigate GnRH regulation of gene expression and differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to identify and isolate hormonally induced changes. This approach identified Fanconi anemia a (Fanca), a gene implicated in DNA damage repair, as a differentially expressed transcript. Mutations in Fanca account for the majority of cases of Fanconi anemia (FA), a recessively inherited disease identified by congenital defects, bone marrow failure, infertility, and cancer susceptibility. We confirmed expression and hormonal regulation of Fanca mRNA by quantitative RT-PCR, which showed that GnRH induced a rapid, transient increase in Fanca mRNA. Fanca protein was also acutely upregulated after GnRH treatment of LβT2 cells. In addition, Fanca gene expression was confined to mature pituitary gonadotrophs and adult mouse pituitary and was not expressed in the immature αT3-1 gonadotroph cell line. Thus, this study extends the expression profile of Fanca into a highly specialized endocrine cell and demonstrates hormonal regulation of expression of the Fanca locus. We suggest that this regulatory mechanism may have a crucial role in the GnRH-response mechanism of mature gonadotrophs and perhaps the etiology of FA

Design of Revising Proximity between Space and Time Cues on Flight Deck Displays to Support NextGen – The Second Phase

The prior first phase of this study investigated the effectiveness of new design of flight deck display for required time of arrival operation of NextGen by collecting objective query response data during autopilot flights and subjective data about the perception between display condition and situation awareness level. To evaluate pilots’ mental workload during the operations when they interacted with novel flight deck display design, this second phase provided pilots with simulation flight tasks arriving at four successive waypoints on time in the same display conditions as the first phase and asked them to rate their mental workload ratings. The workload was significantly lower with the High Proximity condition - all space and time data were integrated into a single display and temporal conformance graphics were added removing the need of control display unit - than with the traditional display condition. This result strengthened the implications from the first phase: the close spatial proximity between space and time cues and the support of graphical temporal conformance indicator showed a promise for improved required time of arrival navigation

Design of Revising Proximity between Space and Time Cues on Flight Deck Displays to Support NextGen – The First Phase

The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate novel display formats to support RTA operations for near to midterm NextGen. Traditional cockpit displays separate space and time information in distant display sources in heterogeneous formats (graphics vs. text). This design composition may cause potential pilot errors when required time of arrival (RTA) obligations are imposed at every waypoint in NextGen. Pilots were randomly assigned to four different display conditions in a simulator – one traditional display with distant space and time cues, and three novel displays with close spatial proximity between the two cues. In the first phase of the experiment for this paper, pilots firstly participated in query tests answering space/time statuses during autopilot RTA flights. The novel displays did not degrade pilots’ situation awareness of space-time as an objective measure. For subjective measure, their situation awareness was significantly higher when the space and time cues were integrated into a single display with graphical temporal conformance indicators. The close spatial proximity between space and time cues and the support of graphical temporal conformance indicator showed a promise for improved RTA navigation

Association Between Sedentary Time and Quality of Life From the Osteoarthritis Initiative: Who Might Benefit Most From Treatment?

Objective To investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) among participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Design Longitudinal, observational design. Setting Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort. Participants Individuals (N=1794) from a prospective, multicenter longitudinal cohort were classified into quantile groups based on average daily sedentary time (most sedentary, quartile 1 [Q1] ≥11.6h; 10.7h≤ Q2 Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Individual QALYs were estimated over 2 years from the area under the curve of health-related utility scores derived from the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey versus time. The relationship between baseline sedentary behavior and median 2-year QALYs was estimated using quantile regression adjusted for socioeconomic factors and body mass index. Results Lower QALYs over 2 years were more frequently found among the most sedentary (Q1, median 1.59), and QALYs increased as time spent in baseline sedentary behavior decreased (median QALYs for Q2, 1.64; Q3, 1.65; Q4, 1.65). The relationship of sedentary time and median QALY change was only significant for the most sedentary Q1 group, where an additional hour of sedentary behavior significantly reduced QALYs by −.072 (95% confidence interval, −.121 to −.020). Conclusions Our findings suggest that individuals with the most extreme sedentary profiles may be vulnerable to additional losses of quality of life if they become more sedentary. Targeting these individuals to decrease sedentary behavior has the potential to be cost-effective

Analysis of traditional Chinese architecture

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1983.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCHIncludes bibliographical references (p. 152-155).This thesis deals with a process of analyzing specific examples in traditional Chinese architecture in an attempt to understand and identify the underlying principles that make it essentially Chinese. The basic intent is that the development of this process of observation would later inform a process of design that would generate a 'new' architecture which could be worthily referred to as a continuum of the traditional architecture. The examples studied range from Palace and Temple architecture to Chinese gardens. To varying degrees, these places have been analyzed in terms of their spatial organization, degrees of public and private, structural systems, use of light, method of composition, system of proportions and system of circulation.by Pamela Grace Chang Sing.M.Arch