Mining electron density for functionally relevant protein polysterism in crystal structures.

This review focuses on conceptual and methodological advances in our understanding and characterization of the conformational heterogeneity of proteins. Focusing on X-ray crystallography, we describe how polysterism, the interconversion of pre-existing conformational substates, has traditionally been analyzed by comparing independent crystal structures or multiple chains within a single crystal asymmetric unit. In contrast, recent studies have focused on mining electron density maps to reveal previously 'hidden' minor conformational substates. Functional tests of the importance of minor states suggest that evolutionary selection shapes the entire conformational landscape, including uniquely configured conformational substates, the relative distribution of these substates, and the speed at which the protein can interconvert between them. An increased focus on polysterism may shape the way protein structure and function is studied in the coming years

Introduction to Maureen O'Connor's SPSSI Presidential Address

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110865/1/josi12105.pd

External Validity: A Survey-Experiment Approach

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68477/2/10.1177_014616727400100102.pd

Diversity-induced resonance in a system of globally coupled linear oscillators

The purpose of this paper to analyze in some detail the arguably simplest case of diversity-induced reseonance: that of a system of globally-coupled linear oscillators subjected to a periodic forcing. Diversity appears as the parameters characterizing each oscillator, namely its mass, internal frequency and damping coefficient are drawn from a probability distribution. The main ingredients for the diversity-induced-resonance phenomenon are present in this system as the oscillators display a variability in the individual responses but are induced, by the coupling, to synchronize their responses. A steady state solution for this model is obtained. We also determine the conditions under which it is possible to find a resonance effect.Comment: Reported at the XI International Workshop "Instabilities and Nonequilibrium Structures" Vina del Mar (Chile

Discrimination, Attribution, and Racial Group Identification: Implications for Psychological Distress Among Black Americans in the National Survey of American Life (2001–2003)

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112256/1/j.1939-0025.2011.01122.x.pd

Social justice themed sermons from civic-minded clergy can push churchgoers towards greater activism to improve racial equality

Religion plays an important role in the lives of many Americans. But what role does religion and religious institutions play in motivating Americans to participate in politics? In their new book, R. Khari Brown, Ronald E. Brown, and James S. Jackson look at the role the spiritual and political efforts made by churches to improve human rights. They find that Black Americans are more likely than White and Hispanic Americans to believe that religious institutions have a moral obligation towards human rights activism, but that all groups are more likely to engage in acts like protests if they attend worship settings where they hear sermons about social justice issues and the importance of political activism