Isolation and characterization of NgRLK1, a receptor-like kinase of Nicotiana glutinosa that interacts with the elicitin of Phytophthora capsici

Elicitins, extracellular proteins from Phytophthora fungi, elicit a hypersensitivity response (HR), including systemic acquired resistance, in some plants. The elicitin capsicein (~10 kDa) was purified by FPLC from culture filtrates of P. capsici. Purified native and recombinant capsicein induced a hypersensitive response in leaves of the non-host plants Nicotiana glutinosa and Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis. To search for candidate capsicein-interacting proteins from N. glutinosa, a yeast two-hybrid assay was used. We identified a protein interactor that is homologous to a serine/threonine kinase of the plant receptor-like kinase (RLK) group and designated it NgRLK1. The ORF of NgRLK1 encodes a polypeptide of 832 amino acids (93,490 Da). A conserved domain analysis revealed that NgRLK1 has structural features typical of a plant RLK. NgRLK1 was autophosphorylated, with higher activity in the presence of Mn2+ than Mg2+

KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF GOLF SWING PERFORMED WITH INTENDED LATE HITTING

The purposes of this study were to analyze and compare the kinematic parameters for standard and purpose golf swings. The purpose golf swing is characterized as intended late hitting and increase displacement of ball through the air (carry). Twenty-five male college golfers were recruited as sUbjects and Science eye field 3 camera system was used to measure the parameters of deterministic model. Paired t-test was used to compare between two different golf swings and correlation coefficients between selected parameters and carry were also computed. As results, a significant difference between standard and purpose golf swings was found in terms of increasing carry. Coefficients of correlation indicated that post-impact ball velocity, pre-impact club head velocity, and meet rate were positively correlated with carry. However, backspin, and angle of release were negatively correlated with carry. These results represented that the parameters of deterministic model were very useful indicators to determine performance and the purpose swing is beneficial to increase carry

THE EFFECTS OF WEARING ROLLER SHOES ON GROUND REACTION FORCE CHARACTERISTICS DURING WALKING

Roller shoes have become increasingly popular among children and it features retractable wheels which allowing the user to walk or roll without changing the footwear. Maintaining balance during forward walking with roller shoes is not an easy task. To prevent falling backward, the user needs to lock the knees and tighten the ankles and thighs while the upper body is slightly leaning forward. Constant walking with roller shoes forces the user to walk in a manner much different from normal gait. Prolonged exposure to un-natural stresses on human body forces our body to evolve by strengthening those incorrect, and temporary functions (Clement et aI., 1981). For children, the chronic stress may lead to serious injuries in the lower extremity later in life. If any potential' of injury exists in a movement it is critical to examine the associated forces that may lead to injury. To the best of our knowledge, the effects of wearing roller shoes on ground reaction forces (GRF) characteristics have rarely been studied, especially in the youth population. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare GRF characteristics during walking wearing jogging and roller shoes

TIBIO-FEMORAL JOINT FORCES DURING THE LANDING PHASE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF VERTICAL JUMP

The purpose of this study was to compare the tibio-femoral contact forces during the landing phases of 8 different types of vertical jump (squat, countermovement, hop approach and drop jumps each with and without the use of arms). Data were collected from eight males and eight females. Two S-VHS camcorders and a force platform were used to obtain the 3-D kinematics and kinetics of the knee joint. Activities of selected muscles spanning the knee joint were monitored using surface electromyographic (EMG) techniques. The EMG-assisted optimization model was used to estimate the tibio-femoral joint forces. The peak compressive contact forces ranged from 3-5 body weight (SW) and from 2.5-3.7 SW for the males and females, respectively. These loads seldom fell within the range that is considered to be damaging to the cartilage at the knee

The starburst cluster westerlund 1: The initial mass function and mass segregation

Westerlund 1 is the most important starburst cluster in the Galaxy due to its massive star content. We have performed BVIC and JKS photometry to investigate the initial mass function (IMF). By comparing the observed color with the spectral-type-intrinsic-color relation, we obtain the mean interstellar reddening of 〈E(B-V)〉 = 4.19 ± 0.23 and 〈E(J-KS )〉 = 1.70 ± 0.21. Due to the heavy extinction toward the cluster, the zero-age main sequence fitting method based on optical photometry proved to be inappropriate for the distance determination, while the near-infrared photometry gave a reliable distance to the cluster - 3.8 kpc from the empirical relation. Using the recent theoretical stellar evolution models with rotation, the age of the cluster is estimated to be 5.0 ± 1.0 Myr. We derived the IMF in the massive part and obtained a fairly shallow slope of Γ = -0.8 ± 0.1. The integration of the IMF gave a total mass for the cluster in excess of 5.0 × 104 M⊙. The IMF shows a clear radial variation indicating the presence of mass segregation. We also discuss the possible star formation history of Westerlund 1 from the presence of red supergiants and relatively low luminosity yellow hypergiants

Removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution by a zeolite–nanoscale zero-valent iron composite

The effectiveness of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) to remove heavy metals from water is reduced by its low durability, poor mechanical strength, and tendency to form aggregates. A composite of zeolite and nanoscale zero-valent iron (Z–nZVI) overcomes these problems and shows good potential to remove Pb from water. FTIR spectra support nZVI loading onto the zeolite and reduced Fe0 oxidation in the Z–nZVI composite. Scanning electron micrographs show aggregation was eliminated and transmission electron micrographs show well-dispersed nZVI in chain-like structures within the zeolite matrix. The mean surface area of the composite was 80.37 m2/g, much greater than zeolite (1.03 m2/g) or nZVI (12.25 m2/g) alone, as determined by BET-N2 measurement. More than 96% of the Pb(II) was removed from 100 mL of solution containing 100 mg Pb(II)/L within 140 min of mixing with 0.1 g Z–nZVI. Tests with solution containing 1000 mg Pb(II)/L suggested that the capacity of the Z–nZVI is about 806 mg Pb(II)/g. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed the presence of Fe in the composite; X-ray diffraction confirmed formation and immobilization of Fe0 and subsequent sorption and reduction of some of the Pb(II) to Pb0. The low quantity of Pb(II) recovered in water-soluble and Ca(NO3)2-extractable fractions indicate low bioavailability of the Pb(II) removed by the composite. Results support the potential use of the Z–nZVI composite in permeable reactive barriers