The Dystopian Dickens: Expectant of Hard Times

As part of this thesis, the novel Expectant will parody different elements of two of Charles Dickens’ novels with their dystopian, futuristic setting. Expectant replicates the themes of disappointment and emotional deprivation from Great Expectations (1860-61), and dehumanization and the struggle between fancy and reason from Hard Times (1854). The parody will draw parallels from the plotlines, characters, and symbols of these novels to further cement the similarities of the themes employed with themes popularized more recently by novels of the dystopian genre. The mission of the project is to sell the novel, Expectant, to publishers on the basis that is it competitive in a dystopian-driven young adult literary market and that, through the parody of Dickens, it offers a different perspective on dystopian literature that will generate interest within the intended target audience

Obesidad: un desafío para las políticas públicas

La obesidad es un problema médico que ha sido declarada epidemia mundial por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. El aumento de su prevalencia implica incrementos en los costos de los sistemas de salud, tanto en forma directa como indirecta, conjuntamente con un deterioro de la calidad de vida. Se vuelva un tema prioritario dentro de la agenda pública de los gobiernos. Las fallas de mercado presentes en el sector constituyen un argumento que justifica la intervención estatal. En función de ello, es que el objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar las fallas de mercado presentes en el sector y realizar una recopilación exhaustiva de las políticas públicas que han sido propuestas para el tratamiento y la prevención de la obesidad

Phase 1 repolarization rate defines Ca2+ dynamics and contractility on intact mouse hearts.

In the heart, Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels triggers Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In most mammals, this influx occurs during the ventricular action potential (AP) plateau phase 2. However, in murine models, the influx through L-type Ca2+ channels happens in early repolarizing phase 1. The aim of this work is to assess if changes in the open probability of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive Kv channels defining the outward K+ current during phase 1 can modulate Ca2+ currents, Ca2+ transients, and systolic pressure during the cardiac cycle in intact perfused beating hearts. Pulsed local-field fluorescence microscopy and loose-patch photolysis were used to test the hypothesis that a decrease in a transient K+ current (Ito) will enhance Ca2+ influx and promote a larger Ca2+ transient. Simultaneous recordings of Ca2+ transients and APs by pulsed local-field fluorescence microscopy and loose-patch photolysis showed that a reduction in the phase 1 repolarization rate increases the amplitude of Ca2+ transients due to an increase in Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels. Moreover, 4-AP induced an increase in the time required for AP to reach 30% repolarization, and the amplitude of Ca2+ transients was larger in epicardium than endocardium. On the other hand, the activation of Ito with NS5806 resulted in a reduction of Ca2+ current amplitude that led to a reduction of the amplitude of Ca2+ transients. Finally, the 4-AP effect on AP phase 1 was significantly smaller when the L-type Ca2+ current was partially blocked with nifedipine, indicating that the phase 1 rate of repolarization is defined by the competition between an outward K+ current and an inward Ca2+ current

Accumulation in East Greenland Fjords and on the Continental Shelves Adjacent to the Denmark Strait over the Last Century Based on 210Pb Geochronology

Sediment (SAR) and mass (MAR) accumulation rates for the last 100 years are derived from 210Pb profiles of box cores collected in three fjords and on the continental shelf in the Kangerlussuaq region, East Greenland, and on the SW Iceland continental shelf. The MAR is lower on East Greenland (0.09 g/cm²·yr) than on SW Iceland (0.14 g/cm²·yr) because of differences in the biogenic component of the sediments, although SAR is similar. The differences in accumulation rates of the three East Greenland fjords are due to their dominant sediment sources and basin areas. Kangerlussuaq Fjord, the largest fjord, is dominated by iceberg sediment input and has a MAR of 0.43 g/cm²·yr at 50 km from the fjord head. Miki Fjord, the smallest fjord, is dominated by glaciofluvial sediment input with a MAR of 0.29 g/cm²·yr of sediment at 10 km from the fjord head. Nansen Fjord is intermediate in size, with an iceberg-dominated sediment supply; MAR is 1.01 g/cm²·yr near the fjord head and 0.17 g/cm²·yr at 20 km from the fjord head. 137Cs is used as a secondary indicator of sediment source, and the high activity level of 137Cs in Miki Fjord indicates glaciofluvial sediment sources. Zones of constant activity in some of the box cores are attributed to either bioturbation in the surface mixed layer or turbidites. We would be hesitant to extend the recent 210Pb-based accumulation rates to estimate the Holocene accumulation rates.On a calculé les taux d'accumulation de sédiments (TAS) et de masse (TAM) pour les cent dernières années à partir des profils du 210Pb dans des carottes rectangulaires prélevées dans trois fjords et sur le plateau continental de la région de Kangerlussuaq (est du Groenland), et sur le plateau continental du sud-ouest de l'Islande. Le TAM est plus faible dans l'est du Groenland (0,09 g/cm² par an) que dans le sud-ouest de l'Islande (0,14 g/cm² par an) en raison des différences dans la composante biogène des sédiments, bien que le TAS soit similaire. La différence entre les taux d'accumulation des trois fjords de l'est du Groenland est due à leurs sources majeures de sédiments et à leurs bassins de réception. Le fjord Kangerlussuaq, le plus grand des trois, est dominé par un apport de sédiments provenant d'icebergs et a un TAM de 0,43 g/cm² par an à 50 km de son extrémité amont. Le fjord Miki, qui est le plus petit, est dominé par un apport de sédiments fluvio-glaciaires avec un TAM de 0,29 g/cm² par an de sédiments à 10 km de son extrémité amont. Le fjord Nansen est de taille moyenne, et l'apport sédimentaire y provient en majorité d'icebergs; le TAM est de 1,01 g/cm² par an près de l'extrémité amont et de 0,17 g/cm² par an à 20 km de l'extrémité amont. Le 137Cs est utilisé comme indicateur secondaire de la source de sédiments, et le niveau d'activité élevé du 137Cs dans le fjord Miki révèle que les sédiments sont d'origine fluvio-glaciaire. Dans certaines des carottes rectangulaires, on attribue les zones d'activité constante soit à une bioturbation dans la couche mixte de surface, soit à des turbidités. Nous hésiterions à recourir aux récents taux d'accumulation fondés sur le 210Pb pour estimer les taux d'accumulation durant l'holocène

Dietary Overlap of Native White Bass and Introduced Yellow Bass in Barren River

In the Barren River Lake of south central Kentucky, native white bass, Morone chrysops, has experienced a decline in population after the introduction of yellow bass, Morone mississippiensis. These species are competing for resources due to an overlapping diet, likely contributing to the decline of the white bass. To explore this hypothesis, I examined the stomach contents and otoliths of white and yellow bass caught during their spawning time in spring 2012. There were 40 yellow bass and 128 white bass collected in Barren River upstream of Barren River Lake. Analysis of stomach contents revealed that both white and yellow bass had a diet that relied heavily on crayfish and insect larvae. Yellow bass were found to have fish eggs present in 8% of stomachs directly after the white bass spawning period. This study supports that there is a dietary overlap between white and yellow bass in Barren River and explores the implications for the white bass and surrounding ecosystem

Oral Interview with Carmen Smith

Last semester, I had a class with Carmen, a woman from Mérida, México that moved to Cincinnati ten years ago. Since the moment I met her, she inspired me and now she still inspires me. She is a Spanish teacher and I want to be a Spanish teacher also. I learned a lot about her and from her during that semester and she became like a friend and role model to me. I knew that she moved to the United States many years ago, but I wanted to know her story. I have another class with her this semester and I had to opportunity to talk with her before class one day. She moved to the United States to look for a new life and future. She needed to leave her family, home, and friends in Mexico and I can imagine that it was not easy. I want to share her story of challenges, hard work, success, and love

A new wire patch cell for the exposure of cell cultures to electromagnetic fields at 2.45 GHz: Design and numerical characterization

Studies on the interaction between electromagnetic (EM) fields and biological systems have recently gathered further momentum due to the huge diffusion of wireless networks. In order to investigate possible effects on cultured cells of EM fields, in the frequency range typical of such a kind of communication, an in vitro exposure system has been designed and numerically characterized. The system is a Wire Patch Cell (WPC) operating at 2.45 GHz which enables the contemporary exposure of four 35 mm Petri dishes and can be inserted into a commercial incubator. Numerical dosimetry has been carried out by means of the CST Microwave Studio® simulator. Results indicate a good efficiency, in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the biological sample per 1 W of input power. Moreover, the homogeneity of the SAR distribution inside each Petri dish is around 70%, considered an acceptable value for such a kind of biological experimentsStudies on the interaction between electromagnetic (EM) fields and biological systems have recently gathered further momentum due to the huge diffusion of wireless networks. In order to investigate possible effects on cultured cells of EM fields, in the frequency range typical of such a kind of communication, an in vitro exposure system has been designed and numerically characterized. The system is a Wire Patch Cell (WPC) operating at 2.45 GHz which enables the contemporary exposure of four 35 mm Petri dishes and can be inserted into a commercial incubator. Numerical dosimetry has been carried out by means of the CST Microwave Studio ® simulator. Results indicate a good efficiency, in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) in the biological sample per 1 W of input power. Moreover, the homogeneity of the SAR distribution inside each Petri dish is around 70%, considered an acceptable value for such a kind of biological experiments

N-doped sponge-like biochar: a promising CO2 sorbent for CO₂/CH₄ and CO2/N₂ gas separation

Sponge-like biochar sorbents were prepared from the dissolution of chitosan followed by freeze-drying methodology and pyrolysis at three different temperatures (400, 600, and 800 °C) to produce sustainable N-enriched carbon materials with enhanced CO2 uptake from CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 gas mixtures. The pyrolysis process was reproduced by operando TGA-IR to study the gas evolved from the pyrolysis process. It was found that the pyrolysis temperature highly influences the textural properties of the chitosan sponge-like biochar materials, impacting mainly the amount and type of the N-species on the sample but also at the microporosity. XPS revealed the transformation of the amino groups from chitosan into pyridinic-N, pyrrolic-N, graphitic center-N, and graphitic valley-N or pyridine-N oxide species during the pyrolysis process. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature enhanced the quantity of the latter two N-type species. All sponge-like biochars adsorbed higher amounts of CO2 compared with CH4 and N2 gases, with maximum CO2 uptake (∼1.6 mmol⋅g−1) at 100 kPa and 25 °C for the sample pyrolyzed at 600 °C (named CTO_P600). Biochar produced at 800 °C showed no longer adsorption capacity for CH4 and N2, having the highest selectivity value for CO2/N2 separation under continuous flux conditions among all prepared biochar sorbents. Isobaric CO2 adsorption measurements on the CTO_P600 sorbent revealed that physisorption phenomena predominantly governed the CO2 adsorption process, which was confirmed by its consistent adsorption capacity after 10 consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles. Moreover, the biochar exhibited tolerance to water vapor adsorption, indicating its suitability to work under moisture-rich conditions.publishe

ERG conductance expression modulates the excitability of ventral horn GABAergic interneurons that control rhythmic oscillations in the developing mouse spinal cord

During antenatal development, the operation and maturation of mammalian spinal networks strongly depend on the activity of ventral horn GABAergic interneurons that mediate excitation first and inhibition later. Although the functional consequence of GABA actions may depend on maturational processes in target neurons, it is also likely that evolving changes in GABAergic transmission require fine-tuning in GABA release, probably via certain intrinsic mechanisms regulating GABAergic neuron excitability at different embryonic stages. Nevertheless, it has not been possible, to date, to identify certain ionic conductances upregulated or downregulated before birth in such cells. By using an experimental model with either mouse organotypic spinal cultures or isolated spinal cord preparations, the present study examined the role of the ERG current (IK(ERG) ), a potassium conductance expressed by developing, GABA-immunoreactive spinal neurons. In organotypic cultures, only ventral interneurons with fast adaptation and GABA immunoreactivity, and only after 1 week in culture, were transformed into high-frequency bursters by E4031, a selective inhibitor of IK(ERG) that also prolonged and made more regular spontaneous bursts. In the isolated spinal cord in which GABA immunoreactivity and m-erg mRNA were colocalized in interneurons, ventral root rhythms evoked by NMDA plus 5-hydroxytryptamine were stabilized and synchronized by E4031. All of these effects were lost after 2 weeks in culture or before birth in coincidence with decreased m-erg expression. These data suggest that, during an early stage of spinal cord development, the excitability of GABAergic ventral interneurons important for circuit maturation depended, at least in part, on the function of IK(ERG)