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

Plant and Animal Pathogen Recognition Receptors Signal through Non-RD Kinases

Plants and animals mediate early steps of the innate immune response through pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs commonly associate with or contain members of a monophyletic group of kinases called the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) family that include Drosophila Pelle, human IRAKs, rice XA21 and Arabidopsis FLS2. In mammals, PRRs can also associate with members of the receptor-interacting protein (RIP) kinase family, distant relatives to the IRAK family. Some IRAK and RIP family kinases fall into a small functional class of kinases termed non-RD, many of which do not autophosphorylate the activation loop. We surveyed the yeast, fly, worm, human, Arabidopsis, and rice kinomes (3,723 kinases) and found that despite the small number of non-RD kinases in these genomes (9%–29%), 12 of 15 kinases known or predicted to function in PRR signaling fall into the non-RD class. These data indicate that kinases associated with PRRs can largely be predicted by the lack of a single conserved residue and reveal new potential plant PRR subfamilies

Sub1 Rice: Engineering Rice for Climate Change.

By the year 2100, the number of people on Earth is expected to increase by ∼50%, placing increasing demands on food production in a time when a changing climate is predicted to compromise crop yields. Feeding this future world requires scientifically informed innovations in agriculture. Here, we describe how a rice gene conferring tolerance to prolonged submergence has helped farmers in South and Southeast Asia mitigate rice crop failure during floods. We discuss how planting of this new variety benefited socially disadvantaged groups. This example indicates that investment in agricultural improvement can protect farmers from risks associated with a changing climate

Insider Experiences of The Qualitative Report’s Reviewing Process

We (Pamela, Tom, and Jenn) wanted to give you our insiders’ experiences of the manuscript submission and reviewing process at The Qualitative Report (TQR). Respectively, we are a researcher-author, an instructor-reviewer, and a student-reviewer who were involved in the reviewing process that resulted in the publication of Pamela’s TQR article: On Doctoral Student Development: Exploring Faculty Mentoring in the Shaping of African American Doctoral Student Success (Felder, in press). In this brief article, we will adopt a somewhat conversational approach to relating our individual and collective experiences. How we came to work together, what that work entailed, and our experiences of that collaborative work will be our focus. In short, we offer our insiders’ sense of (and reflections on) what happens to a manuscript from the time of its submission to the time of its publication at TQR

Historic Preservation Easements: A Proposal for Ohio

Americans have begun to recognize the importance of historically significant structures and places. Historic districts are being restored in many parts of the nation. This recognition has spawned the creation of a social value which places emphasis upon the preservation of historic properties. Historic places provide a physical link to society\u27s cultural history — a unique and irreplaceable connection to the past. More specifically, the protection of cultural resources has social importance since it encourages increased understanding and respect for the past and provides a source of architectural beauty for the future. Governmental promotion of protective policies for historic properties, therefore, satisfies intergenerational responsibilities both to the past and to the future. On a more pragmatic level, the preservation of historic districts has been shown to revitalize urban neighborhoods and bolster local economic conditions. Although historic resources command increasing respect in society, they are exceptionally vulnerable to “public and private interests, natural forces and a concept of progress oriented toward physical expansion and alteration of the environment.” The growing awareness of this fragility has resulted in the development of a number of legal techniques and governmental programs intended to protect historic properties. One such device is the historic preservation restriction. By legislative act, many states have sought to achieve a preservation policy by encouraging the use of conservation and historic preservation easements. These statutes authorize the creation of a new form of private property right which employs traditional property law concepts to accomplish a new purpose. This new right is a less-than-fee interest in land. By legislative action, the common law limitations associated with real covenants and easements have been eliminated, thereby producing a “novel interest in land that is freely assignable and enforceable against subsequent takers.” This interest, often termed a “preservation restriction,” permits a landowner to segment ownership rights and to convey the right to modify the physical appearance and use of lands and structures. By recognizing the existence of an alienable property right to preserve the physical appearance of buildings and places, states authorizing preservation restrictions have established a voluntary, nongovernmental technique for the conservation of cultural resources. This presents an attractive alternative or supplement to the traditional methods of public land use control which compel preservation through the exercise of the police power. In 1980 the Ohio Legislature enacted a statute recognizing “conservation easements” limited to the purpose of preserving open space and agricultural lands. It did not provide any protection for historically significant properties. It is argued that Ohio legislation should be expanded to allow the conservation easement technique to accommodate historic preservation objectives. This article will examine the sufficiency of existing Ohio law to allow the use of the preservation restrictions device for historic preservation purposes. First, public and private land use controls for the preservation of the cultural environment will be critically discussed. Second, there will be a brief exploration of the federal law pertaining to the preservation of historic properties. Third, the legislation of numerous other states9 which have authorized preservation restrictions will be examined in order to isolate the essential characteristics of an effective preservation restriction system. Fourth, the present Ohio historic preservation law will be described with special attention given to the limited way in which the preservation restriction concept has been incorporated into state law. Finally, recommendations for legislative amendment will be provided to improve the statutory framework thereby making preservation restrictions available for the protection of historic properties in the State of Ohio

Geographic Data Informs Funding and Management of Metro Bike Share System

Geographic data is often used to supplement business data, but geographic location (GeoLocation) data has business value in its own right. This geo-spatial study presents a midwestern town’s use of location analytics to infer the purpose for bike trips (usage purpose) and perform what-if analysis to enhance transportation options. The study applies spatial data analysis of bikeshare within transit management and public planning to address funding sources and public good. This case includes GeoExtension of the Metro Bike Share source data by utilizing U. S. Census data. The overall Metro Transit operational goal is to effectively manage the rideshare program to maximize community benefits, particularly in offering optimal transit options. Analysis to inform business operations are 1) inferring likely purpose for bike rides to differentiate between transportation and leisure; 2) determine if bike use integrates with other transit offerings, and 3) to provide transportation options to residents in low-income areas

Historic Preservation Easements: A Proposal for Ohio

Americans have begun to recognize the importance of historically significant structures and places. Historic districts are being restored in many parts of the nation. This recognition has spawned the creation of a social value which places emphasis upon the preservation of historic properties. Historic places provide a physical link to society\u27s cultural history — a unique and irreplaceable connection to the past. More specifically, the protection of cultural resources has social importance since it encourages increased understanding and respect for the past and provides a source of architectural beauty for the future. Governmental promotion of protective policies for historic properties, therefore, satisfies intergenerational responsibilities both to the past and to the future. On a more pragmatic level, the preservation of historic districts has been shown to revitalize urban neighborhoods and bolster local economic conditions. Although historic resources command increasing respect in society, they are exceptionally vulnerable to “public and private interests, natural forces and a concept of progress oriented toward physical expansion and alteration of the environment.” The growing awareness of this fragility has resulted in the development of a number of legal techniques and governmental programs intended to protect historic properties. One such device is the historic preservation restriction. By legislative act, many states have sought to achieve a preservation policy by encouraging the use of conservation and historic preservation easements. These statutes authorize the creation of a new form of private property right which employs traditional property law concepts to accomplish a new purpose. This new right is a less-than-fee interest in land. By legislative action, the common law limitations associated with real covenants and easements have been eliminated, thereby producing a “novel interest in land that is freely assignable and enforceable against subsequent takers.” This interest, often termed a “preservation restriction,” permits a landowner to segment ownership rights and to convey the right to modify the physical appearance and use of lands and structures. By recognizing the existence of an alienable property right to preserve the physical appearance of buildings and places, states authorizing preservation restrictions have established a voluntary, nongovernmental technique for the conservation of cultural resources. This presents an attractive alternative or supplement to the traditional methods of public land use control which compel preservation through the exercise of the police power. In 1980 the Ohio Legislature enacted a statute recognizing “conservation easements” limited to the purpose of preserving open space and agricultural lands. It did not provide any protection for historically significant properties. It is argued that Ohio legislation should be expanded to allow the conservation easement technique to accommodate historic preservation objectives. This article will examine the sufficiency of existing Ohio law to allow the use of the preservation restrictions device for historic preservation purposes. First, public and private land use controls for the preservation of the cultural environment will be critically discussed. Second, there will be a brief exploration of the federal law pertaining to the preservation of historic properties. Third, the legislation of numerous other states9 which have authorized preservation restrictions will be examined in order to isolate the essential characteristics of an effective preservation restriction system. Fourth, the present Ohio historic preservation law will be described with special attention given to the limited way in which the preservation restriction concept has been incorporated into state law. Finally, recommendations for legislative amendment will be provided to improve the statutory framework thereby making preservation restrictions available for the protection of historic properties in the State of Ohio

Part-time Employment in the United States

[Excerpt] To say that part-time workers are less costly than full-time workers, however, is not an explanation for the trend in the use of part-time employees that has occurred. Rather, one must show that the relative cost advantage of part-time workers has increased over time and that variations in the relative cost advantage are associated with variations in the usage of part-time employment. Somewhat surprisingly, few researchers have tried to do this, and even these only indirectly. This paper addresses this issue, albeit in a slightly different way, focusing on data from the United States. We begin in the next section by analyzing data on part-time employment in the United States. After controlling for cyclical factors, an increasing trend in the usage of part-time employment is observed. Moreover, it is clear from the component of part-time employment that is increasing that this is a demand-side, not a supply-side phenomenon

Clinical Laboratory Assessment of \u3cem\u3eMycoplasma genitalium\u3c/em\u3e Transcription-Mediated Amplification Using Primary Female Urogenital Specimens

Following analysis of primary cervix, vagina, and first-void female urine specimens for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis via commercial transcription-mediated amplification (TMA), residual material was subjected to Mycoplasma genitalium research-use-only TMA. Representation within a 2,478-specimen retrospective study set was established by comparison to a 6-month audit of clinical C. trachomatis TMA (12,999 specimens) on the basis of the C. trachomatis detection rate, specimen source distribution, clinic location, and age. M. genitalium was detected in 282 (11.4%) patients. This rate was higher than those seen with T. vaginalis (9.0%; P _ 0.005), C. trachomatis (6.2%), and N. gonorrhoeae (1.4%). Positive M. genitalium results were confirmed by repeat testing or alternative-target TMA at a rate of 98.7%. The mean age of the M. genitalium-infected females (24.7 years) was lower than that of the T. vaginalis-infected females (mean, 30.1 years; P\u3c0.0001) and higher than that of the C. trachomatis-infected females (mean, 23.8 years; P_0.003). Of 566 patient encounters positive for at least one sexually transmitted infection (STI), 35.9% exhibited sole detection of M. genitalium (P \u3c 0.0004 versus sole detection of other STI agents) and 26.1% were solely positive for T. vaginalis (P \u3c 0.0002 versus C. trachomatis). The M. genitalium and T. vaginalis detection rates among 755 patients at urban emergency departments were 14.6% and 13.0%, respectively (P _ 0.37). A 10.0% M. genitalium detection rate from other facilities exceeded that of T. vaginalis (7.2%; P _ 0.004). Incorporation of M. genitalium TMA into comprehensive testing programs would detect M. genitalium in a significant proportion of females, particularly those in outpatient obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) settings