Attosecond pulse shaping using partial phase matching

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The Role of Internalized Homonegativity in the Faith and Psychological Health of Lesbians

Among lesbians, faith-based beliefs and behaviors may be associated with negative psychological health due to the interplay between religious and sexual identities. The present study examined health outcomes, faith-based beliefs (views of God as loving and controlling), faith-based behaviors (personal spiritual practices, religious activities), and internalized homonegativity in a sample of 225 self-identified lesbians. We hypothesized that internalized homonegativity would moderate the relationship between health outcomes and faith-based beliefs and behaviors among lesbians. Generally, results indicated that some faith-based beliefs and behaviors were related to negative health outcomes among lesbians with higher levels of internalized homonegativity, but among those with lower levels of internalized homonegativity, the negative associations with health were mitigated

Parody of Power: Determining the Violence Levels of Hegemonic Transitions

While established literature defines the terms in which a hegemonic transition would occur between great powers, it does not define the precise process. This thesis argues that the perceptions of the rising power affects the violence levels of the transition. The perception of hegemonic action as well as the rising power\u27s role in the world fundamentally affect the way in which transitions do occur. These perceptions are formed through a knowledge of the internal intentions of the rising power which can be explored through the history of the country, the foreign policy decision-making structure, as well as external cues given to the hegemon. This is established through two prior examples of hegemonic transitions as well as an analysis of the likely future transition between the United States of America and the People\u27s Republic of China

Parody of Power: Determining the Violence Levels of Hegemonic Transitions

While established literature defines the terms in which a hegemonic transition would occur between great powers, it does not define the precise process. This thesis argues that the perceptions of the rising power affects the violence levels of the transition. The perception of hegemonic action as well as the rising power\u27s role in the world fundamentally affect the way in which transitions do occur. These perceptions are formed through a knowledge of the internal intentions of the rising power which can be explored through the history of the country, the foreign policy decision-making structure, as well as external cues given to the hegemon. This is established through two prior examples of hegemonic transitions as well as an analysis of the likely future transition between the United States of America and the People\u27s Republic of China

Polymer solid acid composite membranes for fuel-cell applications

A systematic study of the conductivity of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and CsHSO4 composites, containing 0 to 100% CsHSO4, has been carried out. The polymer, with its good mechanical properties, served as a supporting matrix for the high proton conductivity inorganic phase. The conductivity of composites exhibited a sharp increase with temperature at 142°C, characteristic of the superprotonic phase transition of CsHSO4. At high temperature (160°C), the dependence of conductivity on vol % CsHSO4 was monotonic and revealed a percolation threshold of ~10 vol %. At low temperature (100°C), a maximum in the conductivity at ~80 vol % CsHSO4 was observed. Results of preliminary fuel cell measurements are presented

An Analysis of Sound Communication in the Water Vole, \u3cem\u3eMicrotus richardsoni\u3c/em\u3e (Rodentia: Microtinae)

Adult members of the species Microtus richardsoni were used to study the importance of acoustic communication in these voles. Tests were run with single individuals and nonbreeding pairs of voles to obtain recordings and sonagraphs of sounds emitted during exploration of a new cage, agonistic encounters, encounters with a potential predator and in response to miscellaneous aversive stimuli. Of the four groups of tests conducted, sounds were used by M. richardsoni during the last three. The results of this study showed that the water vole emitted ten different call types or sounds. These sounds were separated by similarity into Group I, Group II, tooth-chatter and miscellaneous sound types. Group I calls included the squeal, squawk, grind and complex. These calls were similar in intensity and in having harmonics extending into the ultrasonic range. The squeal consisted of a fundamental frequency plus several distinct, harmonically-related overtones. The squawk resembled the squeal, but the harmonics in the higher frequencies of the former call were obscured by noise. The complex was found to be a combination of two or all three of the other calls. The Group II call types emitted by the water vole were the voiced and voiceless whimpers. These two calls were similar in that each was emitted at low intensity and neither call had harmonics extending into the ultrasonic range. The voiceless whimper was different from the voiced whimper in that its harmonics were obscured by noise. The squawk, grind, complex, voiced whimper and voiceless whimper are inferred to be modifications of the squeal. The primary function of these six call types is postulated to indicate the degree of submissiveness of the vocalizing vole. Modification of the calls is probably related to the motivational state of the animal emitting the call. A secondary effect of the calls might be to inhibit further aggression by the opponent. A seventh sound emitted by the water vole was the tooth-chatter. This sound, also used by many other rodents, was used to communicate threat. The miscellaneous sounds emitted by these voles included the ultrasonic chirp, the peep and the whooping call. These calls were not emitted frequently enough to postulate their function. This study showed that sound is used mainly by Microtus richardsoni during agonistic situations and may be adaptive in inhibiting aggression. The use of the physical characteristics of sounds in determining taxonomic relationships is postulated

Alcohol Fuel Cells at Optimal Temperatures

High-power-density alcohol fuel cells can relieve many of the daunting challenges facing a hydrogen energy economy. Here, such fuel cells are achieved using CsH2PO4 as the electrolyte and integrating into the anode chamber a Cu-ZnO/Al2O3 methanol steam-reforming catalyst. The temperature of operation, ~250°C, is matched both to the optimal value for fuel cell power output and for reforming. Peak power densities using methanol and ethanol were 226 and 100 mW/cm^2, respectively. The high power output (305 mW/cm^2) obtained from reformate fuel containing 1% CO demonstrates the potential of this approach with optimized reforming catalysts and also the tolerance to CO poisoning at these elevated temperatures

Initial B Cell Activation Induces Metabolic Reprogramming and Mitochondrial Remodeling.

B lymphocytes provide adaptive immunity by generating antigen-specific antibodies and supporting the activation of T cells. Little is known about how global metabolism supports naive B cell activation to enable an effective immune response. By coupling RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data with glucose isotopomer tracing, we show that stimulated B cells increase programs for oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and nucleotide biosynthesis, but not glycolysis. Isotopomer tracing uncovered increases in TCA cycle intermediates with almost no contribution from glucose. Instead, glucose mainly supported the biosynthesis of ribonucleotides. Glucose restriction did not affect B cell functions, yet the inhibition of OXPHOS or glutamine restriction markedly impaired B cell growth and differentiation. Increased OXPHOS prompted studies of mitochondrial dynamics, which revealed extensive mitochondria remodeling during activation. Our results show how B cell metabolism adapts with stimulation and reveals unexpected details for carbon utilization and mitochondrial dynamics at the start of a humoral immune response