Archives, Room Use Only - TK5671.L66 1858

September 28, 2015

Good design in any discipline usually carries a structure of order and harmony. Since the Renaissance, artists and architects have used a strong understanding of proportions to create aesthetically pleasing architecture. Many of these classical design principles have followed us into modern times and can be found today in effective web design.

Take an A4 piece of paper for example. If you take it and halve it, the resulting size is A5 with the same exact proportions. No other proportion has the same properties. 16th century architect, Andrea Palladio knew this well. It is believed that because, fundamentally, most architects—like Palladio—use a similar system of proportions to plan and design spaces, buildings can look very different while remaining similar at their cores.

Structure and Beauty

It’s in human nature to...read more
By Ling Lim

A "product grid" demo using - CSS Grid - Clip Path - Conic Gradient, and more.

According to a report by security agencies, the presence of around 450 terrorists, including those from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), has been seen on the launching pads adjacent to the Line of Control (LoC).

Sample preparation within single-particle cryo-electron microscopy can still be a significant bottleneck, with issues in reproducibility, ice quality and sample loss. New approaches have recently been reported that use spraying or pin printing instead of the traditional blotting approach. Here, experience in the use of different nozzle designs and spraying regimes is reported together with their influence on the resulting spray and grid quality.

Structural biology generally provides static snapshots of protein conformations that can provide information on the functional mechanisms of biological systems. Time-resolved structural biology provides a means to visualize, at near-atomic resolution, the dynamic conformational changes that macromolecules undergo as they function. X-ray free-electron-laser technology has provided a powerful tool to study enzyme mechanisms at atomic resolution, typically in the femtosecond to picosecond timeframe. Complementary to this, recent advances in the resolution obtainable by electron microscopy and the broad range of samples that can be studied make it ideally suited to time-resolved approaches in the microsecond to millisecond timeframe to study large loop and domain motions in biomolecules. Here we describe a cryo-EM grid preparation device that permits rapid mixing, voltage-assisted spraying and vitrification of samples. It is shown that the device produces grids of sufficient ice quality to enable data collection from single grids that results in a sub-4 Å reconstruction. Rapid mixing can be achieved by blot-and-spray or mix-and-spray approaches with a delay of ∼10 ms, providing greater temporal resolution than previously reported mix-and-spray approaches.

Despite the great strides made in the field of single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) in microscope design, direct electron detectors and new processing suites, the area of sample preparation is still far from ideal. Traditionally, sample preparation involves blotting, which has been used to achieve high resolution, particularly for well behaved samples such as apoferritin. However, this approach is flawed since the blotting process can have adverse effects on some proteins and protein complexes, and the long blot time increases exposure to the damaging air–water interface. To overcome these problems, new blotless approaches have been designed for the direct deposition of the sample on the grid. Here, different methods of producing droplets for sample deposition are compared. Using gas dynamic virtual nozzles, small and high-velocity droplets were deposited on cryo-EM grids, which spread sufficiently for high-resolution cryo-EM imaging. For those wishing to pursue a similar approach, an overview is given of the current use of spray technology for cryo-EM grid preparation and areas for enhancement are pointed out. It is further shown how the broad aspects of sprayer design and operation conditions can be utilized to improve grid quality reproducibly.

The generalized Darwin–Hamilton equations [Wuttke (2014). Acta Cryst. A70, 429–440] describe multiple Bragg reflection from a thick, ideally imperfect crystal. These equations are simplified by making full use of energy conservation, and it is demonstrated that the conventional two-ray Darwin–Hamilton equations are obtained as a first-order approximation. Then an efficient numeric solution method is presented, based on a transfer matrix for discretized directional distribution functions and on spectral collocation in the depth coordinate. Example solutions illustrate the orientational spread of multiply reflected rays and the distortion of rocking curves, especially if the detector only covers a finite solid angle.

To describe multiple Bragg reflection from a thick, ideally imperfect crystal, the transport equations are reformulated in three-dimensional phase space and solved by spectral collocation in the depth coordinate. Example solutions illustrate the orientational spread of multiply reflected rays and the distortion of rocking curves, especially for finite detectors.

LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines commented Thursday on teacher contract talks that have been ongoing since July.; Credit: Benjamin Brayfield/KPCC

A budget deficit is preventing the Los Angeles Unified School District from offering teachers more than a 5 percent raise, Superintendent Ramon Cortines said Friday.

"I want some resolution," Cortines told reporters, but he said the district is now projecting a shortfall of $160 million heading into the next school year.

United Teachers Los Angeles, the union representing 31,000 teachers, declared an impasse Thursday in the contract negotiations. The two sides have been bargaining since July.

The teachers haven't had a pay increase in eight years, and their salaries are below that of neighboring districts. 

"You are not going to recruit and retain the quality teachers you need," UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl told KPCC's AirTalk this week. The union is seeking an 8.5 percent raise as well as smaller class sizes, more counselors and nurses, and revised teacher evaluations.

Cortines said the district's pay raise offer of 5 percent, retroactive to July 2014, would help make salaries more competitive. But he said the projected deficit is why LAUSD can't afford more.

Projections for the deficit have changed over the months. Last October, it was $365 million; in January, $88 million; and this month, $160 million. 

Teachers union representatives said California schools are receiving more money this year than any time since the recession. Gov. Jerry Brown's Local Control Funding process, which gives local districts more resources for education, is projected to garner the district $240 million more next school year. 

Cortines said he hopes to reach an agreement and he cautioned against any walkout.

"You talk about a budget deficit? It will exacerbate the budget deficit, because parents have other options," Cortines said. "They can go to other schools, private, parochial schools, they can go to charter schools, etc."

Cortines said a mediator is being called into the talks to help resolve the impasse.

The superintendent also repeated his doubts that the district can currently afford to put a computer in the hands of every district student. The program, a key initiative of his predecessor, John Deasy, used bond funds to pay for iPads and other devices.

Cortines said a statement elaborating on his remarks to reporters that "as we are reviewing our lessons learned, there must be a balanced approach to spending bond dollars to buy technology when there are so many brick and mortar and other critical facility needs that must be met."

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

The U.S. electric power delivery system is vulnerable to terrorist attacks that could cause much more damage to the system than natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, blacking out large regions of the country for weeks or months and costing many billions of dollars, says a newly released report by the National Research Council.

Connecting Europe and North Africa with a single, long-distance electricity ‘supergrid’ is technically possible and the cheapest option available to meet Europe’s renewable energy targets, according to new research. However, significant political challenges, such as minimising the perception of risk and attracting sufficient investment, need to be overcome.

A recent study has explored how national regulations and culture, company size and experience with weather incidents have influenced adaptation to climate change in electricity distribution companies in Norway and Sweden. Smaller companies in a strongly regulated environment, with less experience of extreme weather events, find it more difficult to pursue climate change adaption results,

A 50% renewable-energy supply, which is both profitable and secure, is possible for the UK’s electricity grid by just 2030 according to a new study. The researchers developed a plan for adapting and operating the UK’s electricity grid, designed to be flexibly controlled through smart-grid technology and to overcome uncertainties in renewable-energy supply and demand.

Recent research suggests that increasing the number of private electric vehicles would have very little impact on electricity consumption in Milan, Italy. However, unless there are suitable regulations, the daily demand for power to recharge the vehicles at peak times could overload the capacity of the electric supply system.

Electric vehicles (EVs) could play a role in future power supply, but face issues surrounding the longevity of their batteries. This study reconciles two recent contradictory results on the effects of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology on battery life-time, and shows that V2G — a process via which EVs would exchange energy with the power grid to provide ancillary services, such as supplying power during peak periods, and helping to regulate grid frequency — could actually extend the lifespan of commercial lithium-ion batteries.

Researchers have provided a set of guidelines to help policymakers, designers and operators develop sustainable solutions for energy-storage systems for electricity grids. The guidelines cover a range of energy-storage technologies and grid-integration options.

California's congested freeways could be a boon for large-scale piezoelectric power generation.

From Czech architect Marek Štěpán comes Freedomky, a stylish prefab retreat that's affordable, easy to install and — thanks to an optional 'independence'

As Greenpeace attacks Apple for the coal clouds firing its data centers, green grids from Iceland to Quebec are attracting some surprising new customers. All ki

Wind entrepreneur Dale Vince used to live on a bus. Now he's one of Britain's richest men, and he has big plans to transform his country.

From Ikea to Walmart, corporations are increasingly interested in generating their own power. Where does that leave utilities?

The vision of an energy-efficient super grid that allows powers companies to communicate real-time may be possible through Google-Spectrum Bridge partnership.

Many people want to go off grid and lose the electric bill, but does it make sense?

GE Ecomagination contest hopes to solicit the smartest solutions for a much-needed quantum leap in electrical grid technology.

The Tea Party and a few others don't like the idea of 'Big Brother' monitoring our electricity usage.

The development of a smart grid would have substantial environmental and economic benefits.

A solar-powered home that can charge a car is one thing. But what if power flowed the other way, as well?

As California's new Advanced Clean Cars rules push electric vehicles one step closer to the mass market, could the smart grid be the sequel to 'California emiss

Sandia National Laboratories is investing $8.5 million in four projects that are part of the Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS) program.

How embracing a serene, rural lifestyle has taught me to use a chainsaw, ride a pickup and get off my blood pressure medication.

These small-scale solar systems can bring communities impacted by the bushfires and flooding back online in as little as a day.

Genesys, LLC has demonstrated a working prototype generating up to 40 Kilowatts from one standard solar panel (200 watts) with certified third-party validation along with being granted a US Patent

Proceeds will benefit the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund

Workshops, retreats, and general accommodations in beautiful Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

Teltech Communications LLC (dba Teltech Group) Wins Award to Provide Solar Power Plants for Rio Blanco County in Colorado

Attention all tailgaters and outdoor lovers.

Powering Education to the Next Level at Bayero University, Kano State

Television Show Highlights The BeachBilly Lifestyle

Continues to Lead in both Data Quality and Customer Data Platform (CDP) Categories

The Indian unit of Fiberhome, a Wuhan-based producer of fibre optic, had in mid-2019 bagged a pan-India fibre-based network programme contract from PGCIL that aims to offer broadband services and resell bandwidth to public departments.

Using CSS3 to produce a set of thumbnail images that enlarge on hover.

Using CSS3 to produce a set of thumbnail images that enlarge on click. Using :target with the general sibling selector and the 'no jump' technique.

A gallery of images on a grid with hover to zoom the images and partially zoom adjacent images.

Another experimental CSS responsive single page website using 'viewport' with a 3 x 3 grid, suitable for all modern browsers and OS (fails in Safari PC)

A CSS only 3x3 grid layout using 'scroll snap points to scroll the grid one screen at a time. For IE11 and Edge at the moment.

INGRID MICHAELSON has signed a pact with UMe, the global catalog company of UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP and SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP. The agreement is a worldwide deal for the physical and digital … more

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP's UMe has inked a deal with SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP for worldwide distribution of the majority of INGRID MICHAELSON's catalog. SPIRIT acquired the majority of … more

In this paper we prove that any odd multigrid with non-zero rational offsets is regular, which means that its dual is a rhombic tiling. To prove this result we use a result on trigonometric diophantine equations.