Structure and hydration of membranes embedded with voltage-sensing domains.

Despite the growing number of atomic-resolution membrane protein structures, direct structural information about proteins in their native membrane environment is scarce. This problem is particularly relevant in the case of the highly charged S1-S4 voltage-sensing domains responsible for nerve impulses, where interactions with the lipid bilayer are critical for the function of voltage-activated ion channels. Here we use neutron diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structure and hydration of bilayer membranes containing S1-S4 voltage-sensing domains. Our results show that voltage sensors adopt transmembrane orientations and cause a modest reshaping of the surrounding lipid bilayer, and that water molecules intimately interact with the protein within the membrane. These structural findings indicate that voltage sensors have evolved to interact with the lipid membrane while keeping energetic and structural perturbations to a minimum, and that water penetrates the membrane, to hydrate charged residues and shape the transmembrane electric field

A field investigation of flight anxiety: evidence of gender differences in consumer behaviors among Las Vegas passengers

Purpose: This study examines how anxious the Las Vegas public is through a case study of one local international airport. Design/methodology: This study examines gender differences in consumer behaviors among the flying public inside Las Vegas McCarran International Airport in a field experiment theoretically grounded in Terror Management Theory. Findings and Originality/value: Because airports are replete with reminders of human mortality, it is not a surprise that death awareness and flight anxiety may be closely related. The flying public that is anxious to fly presents an interesting public relations situation for airports. Therefore, this study examines how anxious the Las Vegas public is through a case study of one local international airport. Results show that flight anxiety does provoke the same kind of existential defenses that traditional death awareness does. This study also suggests that men and women do not react to flight anxiety in a uniform way, they are different in their reactions in seeking to gamble, eating unhealthy food, and an increased desire for electronic entertainment.Peer Reviewe

64Gb/s transmission over 57m MMF using an NRZ modulated 850nm VCSEL

We report a directly modulated 850nm VCSEL-based optical link operating error free (BER < 1E-12) at 64Gb/s over 57m of OM4 multimode fiber. At 60Gb/s, the error free distance increases to 107m

Variability and origin of seismic anisotropy across eastern Canada: evidence from shear-wave splitting measurements

Measurements of seismic anisotropy in continental regions are frequently interpreted with respect to past tectonic processes, preserved in the lithosphere as “fossil” fabrics. Models of the present-day sublithospheric flow (often using absolute plate motion as a proxy) are also used to explain the observations. Discriminating between these different sources of seismic anisotropy is particularly challenging beneath shields, whose thick (≥200 km) lithospheric roots may record a protracted history of deformation and strongly influence underlying mantle flow. Eastern Canada, where the geological record spans ∼3 Ga of Earth history, is an ideal region to address this issue. We use shear wave splitting measurements of core phases such as SKS to define upper mantle anisotropy using the orientation of the fast-polarization direction ϕ and delay time δt between fast and slow shear wave arrivals. Comparison with structural trends in surface geology and aeromagnetic data helps to determine the contribution of fossil lithospheric fabrics to the anisotropy. We also assess the influence of sublithospheric mantle flow via flow directions derived from global geodynamic models. Fast-polarization orientations are generally ENE-WSW to ESE-WNW across the region, but significant lateral variability in splitting parameters on a ≤100 km scale implies a lithospheric contribution to the results. Correlations with structural geologic and magnetic trends are not ubiquitous, however, nor are correlations with geodynamically predicted mantle flow directions. We therefore consider that the splitting parameters likely record a combination of the present-day mantle flow and older lithospheric fabrics. Consideration of both sources of anisotropy is critical in shield regions when interpreting splitting observations

Improving Disciplinary Literacy in the Science Classroom with Scaffolding

This study examines the effects of scaffolding on students’ scientific literacy skills. This study measured the scientific literacy skills of students before and after the use of four different scaffolding practices by the researcher. Participants included 41 students in grades 7-12 that are enrolled in a science course taught by the researcher. The data collected will be used to direct the researcher’s future teaching of scientific literacy practices

An Analysis of the Cost Impacts Experienced by Drywall Subcontractors During Covid-19

Covid-19 has presented issues in many forms for the drywall tenant improvement (TI) industry due to regulations and restrictions instilled in the Bay Area, California. This report details appropriate implementation of force majeure clause in contracts, stay-at-home orders with regard to construction and updated OSHA requirements. It then goes into analysis on cost impacts observed by various drywall companies operating in the Bay Area and how they are created and controlled. This analysis is supported by interviews conducted with representatives from six different drywall subcontractors who are involved in the estimating and bidding process. Interviews consisted of eight open ended questions regarding cost alterations and mitigation due to Covid-19’s impact on areas concerning material procurement, jobsite productivity, initial bidding changes and future expectations. Every company has its own way of alleviating costs associated with Covid-19, however, in the TI sector, many smaller costs associated with Covid-19 are being forgiven to keep good relations. The future looks promising for the construction economy as the Covid-19 vaccine may be available in the coming months, however, upcoming tenant improvement designs may evolve as company work structures have changed due to the pandemic

Education as a Source of Hope: An Examination of Teacher Beliefs and the Lack of Support for Children with Chronic Health Conditions

As survival rates increase, more children with chronic health conditions are returning to K-12 classrooms after receiving medical treatments. Research has shown that many teachers believe that students with chronic health conditions should not have to worry about school while they are going through treatment (Irwin & Elam, 2011; Legislative Alliance for Students with Health Conditions, 2017). Research also suggests that many schools are violating the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 by withdrawing students from the district due to chronic absenteeism (Eaton, 2012; Wilkie, 2012). The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore and examine the ways in which teachers and schools are supporting students with chronic health conditions, as well as the experiences of teachers who have witnessed inequities impacting these students. An initial survey was sent out to elementary school teachers from a local Bay Area school district, in order to examine the relationship between the beliefs of teachers and the level of support for students with chronic health conditions. Three hospital teachers were also interviewed from a Northern California hospital. Data was analyzed through an open coding process to identify themes and patterns. The findings from this study indicate that teachers benefit from shifting their perspectives from a parent centric way of thinking to student centric, in order to understand the benefits of continuing education during medical treatment. Findings also suggest the need for awareness about the normalizing aspects of education in a hospital setting. By identifying the obstacles that are preventing students with chronic health conditions from receiving the education they have a right to, teachers can better support these students during treatment and their re-entry back into the classroom

Updating the Berne Convention for the Internet Age: Un-Blurring the Line Between United States and Foreign Copyrighted Works

John Naughton, notable journalist and academic, has asserted that “[common sense] should also revolt at the idea that doctrines about copyright that were shaped in a pre-Internet age should apply to a post-Internet one.” And yet, in crucial aspects of international law, this is the situation in which the world finds itself today. The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (the “Berne Convention” or the “Convention”) is one of the most important multinational agreements concerned with copyright law, but it has not been amended since September 28, 1979. Although the internet technically existed in an early and limited form at that time, its use did not become popular and widely available to the public until it was privatized in the 1990s. Because of this timing, the Berne Convention does not reflect any of the practical possibilities for the creation and dissemination of copyrighted works that the internet has made possible, let alone the explosion of creative content and the changing attitudes toward authorship, sharing, and copyright that those realized possibilities have brought about

Removing Crutch Phrases from Audio Containing Speech

Speakers generally find crutch phrases useful to pause and compose their thoughts as they speak. Listeners can find such utterances distracting and/or confusing. Crutch phases in technology-mediated communication such as audio and/or video calls can affect the quality of interaction. This disclosure describes techniques, implemented with user permission, to process speech audio to detect and remove crutch phrases from speech audio. Phrases in the speech are compared with a standard library to detect crutch phrases in the audio stream and to remove such phrases. With permission, natural language processing and/or machine learning techniques can be used to train a model based on an individual’s crutch-word use and speaking style to improve the speed and accuracy of crutch phrase removal. Crutch phrase removal can be implemented within any application, platform, or service that involves speech content, such as audio or video conferencing applications, video streaming, transcription services, etc