Cultural Resource Survey of 2.23 Miles (11,780 Feet) for Proposed Construction and Improvements to an Overhead Electric Transmission Line Located in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas

On September 23 and 24, 2017, Advanced Archaeological Solutions (ADAS) conducted a linear right-of-way (ROW) survey of two separate segments of overhead electric transmission line corridor area that total 2.23 miles (11,780 linear feet) located within the City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas (Figures 1-3). The Project consists of two parallel single circuit transmission lines in El Paso County, Texas and Doña Ana County, New Mexico. The first segment is located just west of the University of Texas at El Paso Main campus and measures 6,910 linear feet (Figure 2), the second segment is located slightly north of this segment and west of Interstate Highway 10 and measures 4,870 linear feet. Each of the two segments measures roughly 150 feet wide to cover the proposed improvement/ construction corridor (50 feet) as well as a 50 foot buffer to either side for a total survey ROW buffer area of 150 feet. The proposed project will include the design to rebuild each line with new, taller, double-circuit, self-supporting, steel tangent and/or dead-end structures. Several segments of the Project have been previously permitted and constructed. The Project is a combination of a rebuild on existing right-of-way (ROW) and new construction. All existing structures are steel monopoles, wooden H-frames, or three-pole dead ends. Replacement structures and new construction will be steel monopoles or two-pole structures. The new structures will be 70 to 105 feet tall, which is approximately 30 to 50 feet higher than the existing structures. The ROW width for the project varies, but will be approximately 150 feet. Impacts to the ROW are expected to include heavy machinery traffic and drilling at proposed transmission structure locations. Foundations of the existing structures will be cut down below grade and backfilled. Beginning on the north end of the Project, portions of proposed Structures 16 to 21 B and 22 A/B to 31 A/B are on Parcel 1 owned by TxDOT. The State-owned Parcel 1 has been largely disturbed by concrete production and concrete waste disposal activities. This property was also historically quarried as visible on the Smeltertown U.S. Geological Services topographic map (see attached EP Electric project maps). The Project crosses two parcels owned by the City of El Paso Water Utilities. These City-owned properties are the site of a water reclamation facility. However, there may be undisturbed portions of the ROW within these parcels and ADAS recommends survey of these parcels. Parcel 3 includes Structures 51 A/B to 56 A/B. Most of this parcel that intersects the project has been graded and developed into parking lots for UTEP. Only undeveloped and ungraded portions of the ROW in this south area are recommended for survey. It is this section of the line that also intersects site 41EP497. Little is known about this site from Texas Atlas, but it is located in a UTEP parking lot and presumed to be disturbed. Your office has requested construction monitoring of proposed Structures 55 A/B because they are in close proximity to the site location. The remaining six parcels at the south end of the Project are owned by UTEP and are developed. These parcels are not recommended for survey for archeological resources

Cultural Resource Survey for Proposed Construction of the San Felipe Substation with Associated Access Road and Overhead Electric ROW Located in Near the Town of Fabens, El Paso County, Texas

On August 15 and 16, 2019, Advanced Archaeological Solutions (ADAS) conducted a block survey and linear right-of-way (ROW) surveys of several separate segments of proposed access road, overhead electric transmission line corridor area and a block survey area (33.75 acres) that total 2.44 miles (12,883 linear feet) located near the Town of Fabens, El Paso County, Texas (Figures 1-2). EPE proposes to construct a new substation on approximately 18.8 acres of University Land (UL) administered by the University of Texas. The project will also include two 150 ft. wide transmission line corridors (approximately 1.64 miles total for both/ 47 acres) and a 75 ft. wide distribution/access road corridor approximately 0.8 miles long (12 acres). Acquisition of the easements from the University of Texas requires an Archaeological Survey of the proposed project boundaries in accordance with Texas Historical Commission (THC) regulations. No cultural resource sites or isolated cultural occurrences were encountered in the proposed project area. Accordingly, it is recommended that the proposed undertaking will have no effect on prehistoric or historic properties and that the proposed project may proceed without further archeological review. However, in the rare and unusual case that buried cultural materials are encountered, construction should be halted immediately in the location of the discovery. In addition, Advanced Archaeological Solutions and the Texas State Historic Preservation Office should be contacted to determine a proper course of action

Pink and Blue Lenses: Duoethnographic Reflections on Biological Sex in Conservative Christian Education

In this duoethnography, we explored how experiences in conservative Christian high schools were viewed through the different lenses of our binary-constructed, biological sexes. Our perceptions varied along the axes of gendered roles, gendered responsibilities, and romance and sexuality. Through reflecting on our own experiences, we critiqued what we were taught and the lasting repercussions those teachings left on our lives. The approach of indoctrination proved counterproductive in our schools, as graduates left unprepared to enter meaningful romantic relationships or to encounter a world outside their previously sheltered environs

Teaching Students About The Financial Crisis Through Best-Selling Books

The 2007-2009 financial crisis was such a momentous time that entire business courses could be devoted to its study.  While some schools may undertake that task, this paper discusses ways in which students may learn about the crisis as part of an established course in economics or finance departments.  Popular press books are highlighted, and writing prompts and discussion questions are shared.  The paper focuses on the response by two key public institutions: the Federal Reserve and the Treasury.  Results from a student survey provide evidence of value from the use of such books

Mg\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Differentially Regulates Two Modes of Mitochondrial Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Uptake in Isolated Cardiac Mitochondria: Implications for Mitochondrial Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Sequestration

The manner in which mitochondria take up and store Ca2+ remains highly debated. Recent experimental and computational evidence has suggested the presence of at least two modes of Ca2+ uptake and a complex Ca2+ sequestration mechanism in mitochondria. But how Mg2+ regulates these different modes of Ca2+ uptake as well as mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration is not known. In this study, we investigated two different ways by which mitochondria take up and sequester Ca2+ by using two different protocols. Isolated guinea pig cardiac mitochondria were exposed to varying concentrations of CaCl2 in the presence or absence of MgCl2. In the first protocol, A, CaCl2 was added to the respiration buffer containing isolated mitochondria, whereas in the second protocol, B, mitochondria were added to the respiration buffer with CaCl2 already present. Protocol A resulted first in a fast transitory uptake followed by a slow gradual uptake. In contrast, protocol B only revealed a slow and gradual Ca2+ uptake, which was approximately 40 % of the slow uptake rate observed in protocol A. These two types of Ca2+ uptake modes were differentially modulated by extra-matrix Mg2+. That is, Mg2+ markedly inhibited the slow mode of Ca2+ uptake in both protocols in a concentration-dependent manner, but not the fast mode of uptake exhibited in protocol A. Mg2+ also inhibited Na+-dependent Ca2+ extrusion. The general Ca2+ binding properties of the mitochondrial Ca2+ sequestration system were reaffirmed and shown to be independent of the mode of Ca2+ uptake, i.e. through the fast or slow mode of uptake. In addition, extra-matrix Mg2+ hindered Ca2+ sequestration. Our results indicate that mitochondria exhibit different modes of Ca2+ uptake depending on the nature of exposure to extra-matrix Ca2+, which are differentially sensitive to Mg2+. The implications of these findings in cardiomyocytes are discussed

Piecewise adiabatic population transfer in a molecule via a wave packet

We propose a class of schemes for robust population transfer between quantum states that utilize trains of coherent pulses and represent a generalized adiabatic passage via a wave packet. We study piecewise Stimulated Raman Adiabatic Passage with pulse-to-pulse amplitude variation, and piecewise chirped Raman passage with pulse-to-pulse phase variation, implemented with an optical frequency comb. In the context of production of ultracold ground-state molecules, we show that with almost no knowledge of the excited potential, robust high-efficiency transfer is possibleComment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Extra-matrix Mg\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Limits Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Uptake and Modulates Ca\u3csup\u3e2+\u3c/sup\u3e Uptake-independent Respiration and Redox State in Cardiac Isolated Mitochondria

Cardiac mitochondrial matrix (m) free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]m) increases primarily by Ca2+ uptake through the Ca2+ uniporter (CU). Ca2+ uptake via the CU is attenuated by extra-matrix (e) Mg2+ ([Mg2+]e). How [Ca2+]m is dynamically modulated by interacting physiological levels of [Ca2+]e and [Mg2+]e and how this interaction alters bioenergetics are not well understood. We postulated that as [Mg2+]e modulates Ca2+ uptake via the CU, it also alters bioenergetics in a matrix Ca2+–induced and matrix Ca2+–independent manner. To test this, we measured changes in [Ca2+]e, [Ca2+]m, [Mg2+]e and [Mg2+]m spectrofluorometrically in guinea pig cardiac mitochondria in response to added CaCl2 (0–0.6 mM; 1 mM EGTA buffer) with/without added MgCl2 (0–2 mM). In parallel, we assessed effects of added CaCl2 and MgCl2 on NADH, membrane potential (ΔΨm), and respiration. We found that \u3e0.125 mM MgCl2 significantly attenuated CU-mediated Ca2+ uptake and [Ca2+]m. Incremental [Mg2+]e did not reduce initial Ca2+uptake but attenuated the subsequent slower Ca2+ uptake, so that [Ca2+]m remained unaltered over time. Adding CaCl2 without MgCl2 to attain a [Ca2+]m from 46 to 221 nM enhanced state 3 NADH oxidation and increased respiration by 15 %; up to 868 nM [Ca2+]m did not additionally enhance NADH oxidation or respiration. Adding MgCl2 did not increase [Mg2+]m but it altered bioenergetics by its direct effect to decrease Ca2+ uptake. However, at a given [Ca2+]m, state 3 respiration was incrementally attenuated, and state 4 respiration enhanced, by higher [Mg2+]e. Thus, [Mg2+]e without a change in [Mg2+]m can modulate bioenergetics independently of CU-mediated Ca2+ transport