No abstract

The capsaicin receptor TRPV1 has been intensively studied by cryo-electron microscopy and functional tests. However, though the apo and capsaicin-bound structural models are available, the dynamic process of capsaicin activation remains intangible, largely due to the lack of a capsaicin-induced open structural model and the low occupancy of the transition states. Here we report that reducing temperature toward the freezing point substantially increased channel closure events even in the presence of saturating capsaicin. We further used a combination of fluorescent unnatural amino acid (fUAA) incorporation, computational modeling, and rate-equilibrium linear free-energy relationships analysis (Φ-analysis) to derive the fully open capsaicin-bound state model, and reveal how the channel transits from the apo to the open state. We observed that capsaicin initiates a conformational wave that propagates through the S4–S5 linker towards the S6 bundle and finally reaching the selectivity filter. Our study provides a temporal mechanism for capsaicin activation of TRPV1.

This study examined how college students’ levels of planned happenstance skills influenced the relationships among career engagement, career decision self‐efficacy, and career decision certainty. Moderated mediation analysis was used with a sample of 217 Korean undergraduate students. The results indicated that career decision self‐efficacy mediated the relationship between career engagement and career decision certainty. Moreover, the positive indirect effect of career engagement on career decision through career decision self‐efficacy was strengthened as the level of planned happenstance skills increased. In conclusion, college students’ career engagement strengthens their career decision certainty via career decision self‐efficacy when they have enough planned happenstance skills to discover unexpected career opportunities.

Colloidal nanocrystal heterostructures in which two or more chemically distinct inorganic components are epitaxially fused together provide new opportunities in developing multifunctional building block materials. The ability to synthesize structurally and chemically well-defined nanocrystal heterostructures can provide novel combinations of unique properties arising at the nanometer length scale. Here, we examine the structural evolution of inverse spinel iron oxide/CdS nanocrystal heterostructures with respect to the sizes of both components. The crystal structure and the crystallinity of the initial iron oxide are first identified by a combination of X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements. Studies on the size effect suggest lattice-strain-induced limitations on the achievable sizes of CdS within the heterostructures. Because of this limitation, increasing the amount of Cd/S reagents leads to multiple particle nucleation on individual iron oxide nanocrystals rather than continued growth. Larger sizes and a limited amount of the CdS component can be achieved by starting with small iron oxide nanocrystals. These results suggest that exploiting lattice strain may be a viable approach to obtaining heterostructured colloids with nanoscale precision.

A scorpion toxin uses protons in the venom as coactivators to target nociceptive ion channel TRPV1 and cause pain.

This study examined factors that played a role in Latina/o undergraduate students' persistence in engineering at a Hispanic serving institution (HSI; N ϭ 10) using the consensual qualitative research method (CQR;Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997). Data analyses resulted in five domains: institutional conditions, additive intersectional burdens, personal and cultural wealth, coping skills, and engineering identity. Participants described how they persisted in the face of stressors, citing specific coping skills they developed over time as well as general personal and cultural strengths they carried with them into their pursuit of engineering. Although the structures of the students' institution were generally described as supportive, Latina participants reported experiences with gendered racism that created added barriers to their persistence in engineering. Supportive institutional conditions, personal and cultural assets, and adaptive coping strategies appeared to facilitate the development of a strong engineering identity, which helped to solidify students' sense of belonging, pride, and commitment to complete their degree. Results highlight the need to address intersecting experiences of privilege and oppression to promote access and equity for Latinas/os in engineering. Public Significance StatementLatinas in engineering experience intersectional forms of marginalization that must be attended to in the development of interventions to support their success. Hispanic serving institutions and Latina/o students have unique strengths that may be leveraged to promote Latinas/os' persistence in engineering. Findings from this study offer practical interventions for educators and career counselors to facilitate inclusive engineering communities for Latina/o engineering students.

The present study demonstrates the importance of considering intersectional identities and/or social contexts in the application of social cognitive career theory and related interventions in efforts to broaden participation in engineering. Specifically, interactions among race/ethnicity, gender, and/or institutional context moderated important social-cognitive relations and differentially explained engineering undergraduates' academic engagement, satisfaction, and intended persistence.

This study extends Flores et al.'s (2006) 36-year analysis of racial/ethnic minority (REM) career research to identify recent trends in choice of topics and leading individual and institutional contributors. The authors identified 166 articles on REM career research published from 2005 to 2015 in the Journal of Vocational Behavior, The Career Development Quarterly, the Journal of Career Assessment, and the Journal of Career Development.Of these studies, 92% were empirical, with more than three quarters of these using quantitative rather than qualitative methodology. Most frequently, the empirical studies (n = 153) were based on samples of high school (30.7%) or undergraduate (34.6%) students. The authors discuss the implications of their findings and suggest ways to expand REM career research in the future.