The Psychology and Communication of Climate Change Ignorance

Review of: George Marshall, Don\u27t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change. Bloomsbury USA, 2014, 272 pages. ISBN: 978163286102

Membrane Protein Interactions and Transport in Confined Microenvironments

Membrane proteins make up a large fraction of the human proteome and are implicated in numerous biological processes. Due to their vast importance in human biology, they are frequently the target of drug therapies and are commonly utilized in biotechnology applications. However, studying membrane protein interactions and transport in their native environment has historically been challenging. Here, we use reconstituted lipid bilayer model systems to investigate individual membrane protein interactions and transport, where the proteins are confined to a two-dimensional (2D) surface either transiently or permanently. For all of this work, we use epithelial-cadherin (E-cad) adhesion proteins either to gain direct insight into the mechanisms underlying cell-cell cohesion, or to study a model membrane-associating protein. First, we used single-molecule Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy to test for lateral protein clustering between E-cad, when the proteins were confined to a 2D lipid bilayer surface. After showing that E-cad formed clusters on a 2D surface, we then developed a framework combining single-molecule F&ouml;rster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) with kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations to quantify the lateral interaction kinetics mediating these clusters. Within this framework, single-molecule FRET allowed us to directly visualize binding events between E-cad molecules, while simultaneously tracking individual E-cad dynamics on the surface. Next, we developed a biomimetic cell junction model to characterize molecular binding of E-cad within cell junctions using single-molecule FRET. Within this junction model, we tested for cooperativity between E-cad lateral (cis) and adhesive (trans) interactions using multiple E-cad mutant proteins. E-cad lateral and adhesive interactions were found to be mutually cooperative, meaning one stabilizes the other, and vice-versa. Lastly, we used Convex Lens-Induced Confinement (CLiC) to measure the facilitated diffusion of individual E-cad molecules across a wide range of confinement length-scales, where E-cad was capable of transiently adsorbing to lipid bilayers on the top and bottom surfaces. Consistent with previous theoretical predictions, the effective surface diffusion was maximized at intermediate heights. A hybrid, kinetic Monte Carlo simulation approach was used to study this process in detail, and showed that facilitated diffusion can indeed result in elevated diffusion under confinement, but only under conditions where the molecule has a low affinity for the surface. These findings provided new insights into the physics underlying the search process of peripheral membrane proteins and information useful for the design of biotechnology systems.</p

Resource selection at homesites by wolves and eastern coyotes in a \u3ci\u3eCanis\u3c/i\u3e hybrid zone

We modeled resource selection by wolves (Canis spp.), eastern coyotes (C. latrans), and admixed canids during the pup-rearing season at den and rendezvous sites (collectively, homesites) within a largely unprotected landscape proposed as the recovery zone for federally and provincially threatened eastern wolves (C. lycaon) in Ontario, Canada. Overall, canids selected wetlands, while avoiding secondary roads and open-structure rock-grass habitat patches. Packs with greater wolf ancestry selected wetlands and tertiary roads more strongly, while avoiding mixed conifer-hardwood forests. Contrary to our prediction, canids with greater coyote ancestry did not establish homesites closer to roads, which likely mitigated their risk of human-caused mortality during pup-rearing. Packs exhibited increased selection of wetlands within territories as a function of increasing availability of wetlands. Packs with abundant access to wetlands may prioritize this habitat type to exploit beavers, a valuable prey species during pup-rearing. Packs with higher pup survival selected hardwood forests and avoided conifer forests more than packs with lower pup survival. This is consistent with our understanding of habitat relations of the main prey species for canids in central Ontario and suggests that selecting prey-rich habitat types at homesites increases fitness. A proposed goal of eastern wolf recovery is numerical and geographical expansion outside of the population core in Algonquin Provincial Park. Thus, our results provide valuable information for conservation by quantifying resource selection of wolves, coyotes, and hybrids during pup-rearing and identifying links between fitness and homesite selection

The Histories Volume 16, Spring 2020

A collection of undergraduate research from 2019 to 2020 academic year at La Salle University

Taxing food: implications for public health nutrition

AIM: To set out a policy analysis of food taxes as a way of influencing food consumption and behaviour. DESIGN: The study draws on examples of food taxes from the developed world imposed at national and local levels. Studies were identified from a systemised search in six databases with criteria designed to identity articles of policy relevance. RESULTS: The dominant approach identified from the literature was the imposition of food taxes on food to raise general revenue, such as Value Added Tax in the European Union. Food taxes can be applied in various ways, ranging from attempts to directly influence behaviour to those which collect taxes for identified campaigns on healthy eating through to those applied within closed settings such as schools. There is a case for combining taxes of unhealthy foods with subsidies of healthy foods. The evidence from the literature concerning the use and impact of food taxes on food behaviour is not clear and those cases identified are mainly retrospective descriptions of the process. Many food taxes have been withdrawn after short periods of time due to industry lobbying. CONCLUSIONS FOR POLICY: Small taxes with the clear purpose of promoting the health of key groups, e.g. children, are more likely to receive public support. The focus of many tax initiatives is unclear; although they are generally aimed at consumers, another focus could be food manufacturers, using taxes and subsidies to encourage the production of healthier foods, which could have an effect at a population level. Further consideration needs to be given to this aspect of food taxes. Taxing food (and subsidies) can influence food behaviour within closed systems such as schools and the workplace

Concert recording 2018-02-18

[Track 1]. Cavatina Largo al factotum / Gioachino Rossini -- [Track 2]. Duettino / Eugene Bozza -- [Track 3]. Romance de barrio / Anibal Troilo arranged by Gonzalo Brusco -- [Track 4]. Danny boy / Traditional arranged by Ian McCubbin -- [Track 5]. Malevos / Noelia Escalzo -- [Track 6]. Muppets theme / Jim Henson Sam Pottle