Open Access Journals University of Manitoba
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Perceptions of Underrepresentation Among Students in STEM Fields: An Empirical Analysis
Get PDFGender bias in science has been thoroughly researched and it is well known that women are underrepresented within post-secondary Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (herein stem) programs. Limiting women’s participation in science carries heavy consequences for both the economy and scientific community. Therefore, gender inequality must be addressed with urgency. This research is focused on the following research questions: 1) are there gender differences in how students perceive the underrepresentation of women in stem; 2) are there gender differences in student support for initiatives that could enhance gender equity in stem? Not surprisingly, the results suggest that women consider proportionate gender representation to be more important than men (61.9% vs. 39.6%; χ 2 [2, 158]=7.05, p=0.029, Cramer’s V=0.211). Further, when considering their own experiences, 20% of female respondents reported feeling underrepresented at university. These perceptions were more common among women studying stem subjects than other subjects (33% vs. 14%; χ 2 (1, 339)=16.9, p<0.001, Cramer’s V=0.22). Women expressed a greater level of support than men for many programs that would address this issue and a greater level of interest in participating in them. This interest was heightened among women who felt underrepresented. This suggests that women desire opportunities to connect with like peers through outreach and mentorship programs. These solutions require increased levels of resources, as well as the cooperation of those who do not identify as underrepresented individuals. Post-secondary institutions should consider this as they develop new ways of addressing this issue
The Hapless Editors
Get PDFAs the editors were carrying the stack of review papers accepted for publication in Volume 4, Issue 1 their skates (we’re in Canada, eh) flew from underneath them and the papers were scattered....Can you help the hapless editors piece together the issue from the clues provided before their publication deadline?Â
Investigating the N-terminal deletion in Mitochondrial Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels in Neurospora crassa
Get PDFThe mitochondrial outer membrane consists of a class of porin –VDAC – that facilitate diffusion of small hydrophilic molecules across the outer membrane. VDAC proteins share a prominent property in which they display voltage-dependent conformational changes involved in gating when reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers (Benz 1994). The N-terminus of VDAC is the focus of this study, due to conflicting structural and electrophysiological results presented by Geula et al. 2012 and Teijido et al 2012. Thus, it proves essential to verify the N-terminus’s function and mobility in VDAC gating mechanism. The objective of this study is to determine the basis for the phenotypic differences seen in two generated Neurospora crassa strains (∆N2a, WS125.5) that originally had identical VDAC N-terminal deletions of amino acids 2-12. Qualitative and quantitative phenotypic analysis was conducted using race tubes; ∆N2a displayed growth rates at a midpoint between wild-type and WS125.5 growth rates, while WS125.5 displayed significantly reduced growth rates. Genomic DNA was extracted from both variants and sequenced using BigDye Termination 3.1, revealing the N-terminal deletion in ∆N2a. Sequences from WS125.5 failed to provide information regarding the N-terminal deletion in the strain due to incorrect annealing of primers. However, PCR analysis -- using predetermined primers -- of genomic segments of WS125.5 resulted in a double banding pattern -- a band that is characteristic for wild-type and a band characteristic for the strain. This indicates that WS125.5 is a heterokaryon; however, because it does not exhibit the wild type growth phenotype suggests that the N-terminal porin deletion is a dominant deletion
Adaptive Radiation in Antarctic Notothenioids
Get PDFAntarctic notothenioids have undergone adaptive radiation in order to survive. Some challenges notothenioids face includes maintaining proper organ function, increased blood viscosity, maintaining appropriate protein levels, and conserving energy. Many of the solutions that the Notothenioidei have evolved to these challenges are considered to be ‘disadaptations’, as they are typically only advantageous under these unique environmental conditions. This paper explores the mechanisms used by the Notothenioidei to survive the Antarctic waters, despite all the environmental pressures
Supplementary Information for "Developing a Genotyping Scheme for Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Using Whole Genome Sequencing Data"
Get PDFSupplementary Information for Developing a Genotyping Scheme for Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Using Whole Genome Sequencing DataWuzinski & Sharma, 2018, PMUSER, 4(1): 37–45.http://ojs.lib.umanitoba.ca/index.php/pmuser/article/view/637/715DOI: 10.5203/pmuser.20184163