Explore the vast range of titles available.

\"The supercharged facts about energy and waves can set your brain buzzing! You learn about huge rates of consumption (like the 35.3 quadrillion BTUs of petroleum used in the United States in 2011), huge timelines (it took 300 million years for our greatest source of energy, fossil fuels, to be created), and even huger mysteries (how long it will be before fossil fuels run out).\"--Amazon.com.

Readers learns about the history of natural gas, how it is used today and how it may used in the future.

E-cigarettes (e-cigs) are a cigarette alternative that do not contain tobacco or tar, and whose e-liquids are available in over 7,000 flavors. While marketed as a safer smoking alternative, the basic health effects of vaping commercially available e-liquids and their constituent components (i.e., propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), nicotine, flavors) are not well understood. However, inhalation of diacetyl (butter flavor) has been shown to cause bronchiolitis obliterans (‘Popcorn Lung’). In this dissertation, we sought to better understand the biological effects of flavored e-liquids and their chemical constituents on airway cells. We first screened 13 flavored e-liquids, PG/VG, and nicotine for toxicity in a pulmonary epithelial cell line. We demonstrated that the responses were both dose- and flavor-dependent by exposing cells to either the unheated or heated (aerosolized) e-liquids. 4 of 13 flavored e-liquids had more pronounced toxicity effects than the PG/VG base or other flavors, and did not share a flavoring chemical between them that might be universally toxic. We then demonstrated that the toxic effects that we were measuring were either due to (1) direct cytotoxicity or (2) inhibiting cell proliferation. We further explored the ability of flavored e-liquids to inhibit cell proliferation by characterizing their effects on intracellular Ca2+ signaling, which can affect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Specifically, we demonstrated that a Banana Pudding-flavored e-liquid could stimulate phospholipase C-dependent inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate generation leading to ER Ca2+ depletion and elevations in cytosolic Ca2+. Moreover, we screened 100 additional e-liquids and found 42 of 100 elicited cytosolic Ca2+ responses, suggesting many flavors can alter Ca2+ homeostasis. Analysis of their chemical constituents correlated the presence of common flavorings (e.g., ethyl vanillin, vanillin, and ethyl maltol) with the cytosolic Ca2+ responses. Additional testing confirmed that those flavors caused dose-dependent Ca2+ signaling. Altered Ca2+ homeostasis can have profound effects on airway physiology and has been implicated in disease (i.e., cancer, autoimmune diseases, inflammation). Therefore, these products should be further assessed for their flavor-dependent effects on airway physiology (e.g., Ca2+ homeostasis) and potential consequences of long-term inhalation toxicity from chronic vaping.

\"This book covers weather and climatology, including weather-related disasters, how weather impacts us as humans, what patterns occur with weather and within different climates, and how we measure and predict those things\"--Provided by publisher.

\"In Ancient India, readers discover the history and impressive accomplishments of the people of ancient India, including their enduring religions and rich literary traditions. Engaging text provides details on the civilization's history, development, daily life, culture, art, technology, warfare, social organization, and more.\"--Publisher's web site.

Animals discriminate stimuli, learn their predictive value and use this knowledge to modify their behavior. In Drosophila, the mushroom body (MB) plays a key role in these processes. Sensory stimuli are sparsely represented by ∼2000 Kenyon cells, which converge onto 34 output neurons (MBONs) of 21 types. We studied the role of MBONs in several associative learning tasks and in sleep regulation, revealing the extent to which information flow is segregated into distinct channels and suggesting possible roles for the multi-layered MBON network. We also show that optogenetic activation of MBONs can, depending on cell type, induce repulsion or attraction in flies. The behavioral effects of MBON perturbation are combinatorial, suggesting that the MBON ensemble collectively represents valence. We propose that local, stimulus-specific dopaminergic modulation selectively alters the balance within the MBON network for those stimuli. Our results suggest that valence encoded by the MBON ensemble biases memory-based action selection. An animal's survival depends on its ability to respond appropriately to its environment, approaching stimuli that signal rewards and avoiding any that warn of potential threats. In fruit flies, this behavior requires activity in a region of the brain called the mushroom body, which processes sensory information and uses that information to influence responses to stimuli. Aso et al. recently mapped the mushroom body of the fruit fly in its entirety. This work showed, among other things, that the mushroom body contained 21 different types of output neurons. Building on this work, Aso et al. have started to work out how this circuitry enables flies to learn to associate a stimulus, such as an odor, with an outcome, such as the presence of food. Two complementary techniques—the use of molecular genetics to block neuronal activity, and the use of light to activate neurons (a technique called optogenetics)—were employed to study the roles performed by the output neurons in the mushroom body. Results revealed that distinct groups of output cells must be activated for flies to avoid—as opposed to approach—odors. Moreover, the same output neurons are used to avoid both odors and colors that have been associated with punishment. Together, these results indicate that the output cells do not encode the identity of stimuli: rather, they signal whether a stimulus should be approached or avoided. The output cells also regulate the amount of sleep taken by the fly, which is consistent with the mushroom body having a broader role in regulating the fly's internal state. The results of these experiments—combined with new knowledge about the detailed structure of the mushroom body—lay the foundations for new studies that explore associative learning at the level of individual circuits and their component cells. Given that the organization of the mushroom body has much in common with that of the mammalian brain, these studies should provide insights into the fundamental principles that underpin learning and memory in other species, including humans.

A biography of Marie Curie discusses her childhood and education and describes how her work advanced the study of radioactivity.

IntroductionAcute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (AUGIB) has an annual incidence of 134 per 100,000, with an overall mortality of 10%. The nature of AUGIB can result in high pressured situations. Prompt and appropriate initial treatment can determine outcomes. Care bundles have been shown to improve standards of care as seen in the decompensated cirrhosis bundle. The British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) introduced the AUGIB bundle in 2018 to improve the standard of care; however, it is less widely adopted into practice than the decompensated bundle. We reviewed current practice in a single North East NHS trust, in the management of AUGIB before and after introducing the BSG AUGIB bundleMethodsWe undertook a retrospective review of all emergency admissions and inpatient AUGIB over a 1-month period to gather data on time of event, initial treatment given, Blatchford scores, time to endoscopy request, management of anticoagulation and mortality outcomes, as well as an anonymous staff survey of a range of junior doctors on the management of AUGIB. A prospective review of inpatient AUGIB over 1 month following implementation of the bundle and staff education was then conducted.ResultsThere were 91 inpatient OGD requests during August 22, of which 22 represented requests for AUGIB, the remaining were OP requests. Median age was 64 years (IQR 15), 68% were male. 59% presented with meleana (n=13). Following recognition of AUGIB, review by medical doctor was undertaken within <15 minutes to 29 hours. Blatchford score was calculated in 18% (n=4) cases, average score in our case load was 8.2. 50% received resuscitation with IVT, 27% received RBC but of these only 33% had hb <70. No patients received terlipressin, IV PPI was given in 27%, 90% had PT checked, 40% were high(>15). of those on aspirin it was stopped in 33% (n=1), 33% had clopidogrel stopped (n=1), all on DOACs were stopped (n=2). 55% had documented discussion with endoscopist, 73% had endoscopy requested <24 hours. Following endoscopy, an antithrombotic plan was made in 9%(n=2), all (n=13) who had peptic ulcers had PPI plan documented. Overall 30-day mortality was 9% (n=2), whilst 6-month mortality was 24%.Questionnaire data had 25 responses from junior doctors, 60% reported experience with AUGIB ≥ once a month. 86% felt confident recognising, and, 72% were confident managing AUGIB. 88% would stop all anticoagulation including aspirin. The reaudit is currently underway and will form discussion element of this projectConclusionsAUGIB in hospital setting are not managed to the standards we expect, with <20% having a Blatchford score calculated, and only 73% having OGD requested within 24 hours.Doctors are less comfortable in managing AUGIB than expected, especially with regard to anticoagulation decisions