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Selection by consequence: A response to Hayes and Fryling (2019)
No full textThe paper by Hayes and Fryling (2019) seeks to inform readers that the Kantorian system of Interbehaviorism has been misunderstood and misrepresented by contextual behavior scientists. Furthermore, these authors suggest that much is to be gained by embracing the system developed by Kantor, most importantly that being large scale system building efforts. We disagree with this position, and find the Kantorian system to be of questionable relevancy and at risk of potential extinction within the behavioral community. We also have concerns that perhaps the insights provided by Hayes and Fryling will fail in recruitment of additional members to the Interbehavioral cause. Although the overarching theme of Interbehaviorism is present within emerging dynamical approaches to behavior science, adopting the vernacular of Kantor may be unnecessary to continue his tradition. We recommend allowing empirical selection to run its course in determining the eventual fate of Kantor\u27s Interbehaviorism
Interplay between Oxo and Fluoro in Vanadium Oxyfluorides for Centrosymmetric and Non-Centrosymmetric Structure Formation
No full textHerein, we report the syntheses of two lithium-vanadium oxide-fluoride compounds crystallized from the same reaction mixture through a time variation experiment. A low temperature hydrothermal route employing a viscous paste of V2O5, oxalic acid, LiF, and HF allowed the crystallization of one metastable phase initially, Li2VO0.55(H2O)0.45F5⋅2H2O (I), which on prolonged heating transforms to a chemically similar yet structurally different phase, Li3VOF5 (II). Compound I crystallizes in centrosymmetric space group, I2/a with a = 6.052(3), b = 7.928(4), c = 12.461(6) Å, and β = 103.99(2)°, while compound II crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric (NCS) space group, Pna21 with a = 5.1173(2), b = 8.612(3), c = 9.346(3) Å. Synthesis of NCS crystals are highly sought after in solid-state chemistry for their second-harmonic-generation (SHG) response and compound II exhibits SHG activity albeit non-phase-matchable. In this article, we also describe their magnetic properties which helped in unambiguous assignment of mixed valency of V (+4/+5) for Li2VO0.55(H2O)0.45F5⋅2H2O (I) and +4 valency of V for Li3VOF5 (II)
5-HT3/7 and GABA\u3csub\u3eB\u3c/sub\u3e receptors mediate inhibition of trigeminal nociception by dietary supplementation of grape seed extract
No full textBackground: Temporomandibular joint disorder is a prevalent orofacial pain condition involving sensitization and activation of trigeminal nociceptive neurons. Dietary supplementation with a proanthocyanin-enriched grape seed extract (GSE) was found to inhibit trigeminal nociception in a chronic TMD model. In this study, the cellular mechanisms by which GSE inhibits sustained trigeminal nociception in male and female Sprague Dawley rats were investigated.
Methods: Some animals were supplemented with 0.5% GSE dissolved in their water one week prior to neck muscle inflammation induced by injection of complete Freund\u27s adjuvant into the trapezius. To investigate the mechanism of GSE, some animals were injected intracisternally with antagonists of 5-HT3, 5-HT7, GABAA, or GABAB, receptor prior to jaw opening.
Results: In males and females, trapezius inflammation prior to jaw opening resulted in sustained mechanical hypersensitivity of trigeminal nociceptors that was significantly inhibited by GSE. Further, GSE beginning 14 days post jaw opening also inhibited trigeminal nociception. Intracisternal injection of antagonists of the 5-HT3/7 and GABAB, but not GABAA receptors reduced the anti-nocifensive effect of GSE in both sexes. Neuronal expression of GABAB protein and mRNA in the spinal cord and trigeminal ganglion were detected.
Conclusions: The inhibitory effect of GSE is mediated via activation of 5-HT3/7 receptors and GABAB to enhance central descending inhibitory pain pathways and suppress ongoing trigeminal nociception. Further, our findings support the use of GSE as a dietary supplement in the management of pain associated with TMD and other orofacial pain conditions involving central sensitization and dysfunction of descending pain modulation
Visualizing Blood Vessel Development in Cultured Mouse Embryos Using Lightsheet Microscopy
No full textLightsheet microscopy is a form of fluorescence microscopy that can be used to visualize specimen with high resolution, a large depth-of-field, and minimal photodamage and photobleaching as compared to traditional confocal microscopy. As this technology becomes much more readily available, it will be useful in revealing new findings in the cardiovascular development field that may be hidden or difficult to image. In this manuscript, we describe an approach for mounting and culturing postimplantation mouse embryos to visualize blood vessel development with a lightsheet microscope
Spatiotemporal analysis of sea ice leads in the arctic ocean retrieved from icebridge laxon line data 2012–2018
No full textThe ocean and atmosphere exert stresses on sea ice that create elongated cracks and leads which dominate the vertical exchange of energy, especially in cold seasons, despite covering only a small fraction of the surface. Motivated by the need of a spatiotemporal analysis of sea ice lead distribution, a practical workflow was developed to classify the high spatial resolution aerial images DMS (Digital Mapping System) along the Laxon Line in the NASA IceBridge Mission. Four sea ice types (thick ice, thin ice, open water, and shadow) were identified, and relevant sea ice lead parameters were derived for the period of 2012–2018. The spatiotemporal variations of lead fraction along the Laxon Line were verified by ATM (Airborne Topographic Mapper) surface height data and correlated with coarse spatial resolution sea ice motion, air temperature, and wind data through multiple regression models. We found that the freeboard data derived from sea ice leads were compatible with other products. The temperature and ice motion vorticity were the leading factors of the formation of sea ice leads, followed by wind vorticity and kinetic moments of ice motion
Bariatric surgery in the Middle East and North Africa: narrative review with focus on culture-specific considerations
No full textThere is an increasing volume of bariatric surgeries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), but the context of bariatric surgery in the region is not fully understood. Incorporating culture-specific considerations in the provision of care to patients who undergo bariatric surgery may help to optimize outcomes after surgery. We conducted a narrative review of published research studies on bariatric surgery in the MENA region, highlighting cultural and contextual aspects relevant to the care of bariatric surgery patients who undergo surgery in this geographic area. The authors searched the following online databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Academic Search Elite from 2010-2020 for studies conducted in 18 countries in the MENA region. This narrative review identifies cultural-specific considerations that may affect bariatric care and outcomes in 6 domains: knowledge of bariatric surgery; mental health, body image, and quality of life; influence of family; religion and lifestyle; preoperative practices; and healthcare access. Provision of culturally congruent care may help patients to achieve the best possible outcomes after bariatric surgery. Results may inform efforts to provide safe and culture-specific care in the MENA region, as well as those who migrate or seek care in other countries. More research is warranted on this heterogeneous population to optimize postsurgery weight trajectory and psychosocial adjustment
Late cretaceous sediment provenance in the Eastern Gulf coastal plain (U.S.A.) based on detrital-zircon U-PB ages and TH/U values
No full textDetrital-zircon U-Pb geochronology documents a regional- to continental-scale drainage reorganization along the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain (USA) from the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) to the Paleocene-Eocene. We present detrital-zircon U-Pb ages and Th/U values from the Maastrichtian Ripley Formation to determine the sedimentary provenance and to provide spatiotemporal resolution of drainage reorganization. The Ripley Formation contains a 12.7% overall average abundance of detrital zircons with low (, 0.1) Th/U values relative to the underlying Cenomanian Tuscaloosa Group (3.6%), the overlying Paleocene-Eocene Wilcox Group (2.8%), an Appalachian foreland composite (2.1%), and the laterally equivalent McNairy Sandstone in the northern Mississippi Embayment (3.8%). Multidimensional scaling of detrital-zircon U-Pb spectra shows that the Ripley Formation is dissimilar from underlying and overlying Gulf Coastal Plain units, the McNairy Sandstone, and an Appalachian foreland composite sample because of differences in proportions of Appalachian (490-270 Ma) and Grenville (1250-900 Ma) zircons. We interpret the southern Appalachian Piedmont province as the principal sediment source region for the Ripley Formation to account for the elevated abundance of grains with low (, 0.1) Th/U values and unique detrital-zircon U-Pb age spectra. Results suggest a regional-scale (105 km2) drainage network, which delivered sediment to the Maastrichtian coast followed by northwestward littoral transport and eventual mixing with Appalachian foreland-derived sediment in the northern Mississippi Embayment. This study further brackets drainage reorganization along the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain and demonstrates how simple chemical-age relationships, such as zircon Th/U values coupled with U-Pb ages, can be used to evaluate sediment provenance
Geochemical Investigation of Monogenetic Volcanoes from the Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea, Alaska
No full textSmall-volume basaltic magmas found at continental intraplate environments have not been as extensively studied compared to their polygenetic counterparts. Specifically, regions such as the Bering Sea basalt province, described as a diffuse igneous province, have commonly been overlooked. Assumptions that these systems are invoked by simple, single batches of magma has subsequently left a gap in understanding the processes responsible for primary magma generation away from plate boundaries with little tectonic influence. The following studies that constitute this thesis focus on an in-depth geochemical investigation at the crystal and sub-crystal scale to evaluate lithospheric mantle heterogeneities, processes that govern primary magma generation, and time scale estimations to constrain subsurface processes at monogenetic volcanic centers. The Pribilof Islands are one of approximately fifteen late Cenozoic (\u3c6 \u3eMa) monogenetic volcanic fields that are regionally dispersed in the Bering Sea. St. George and St. Paul, two of the principal Pribilof Islands, constitute the youngest volcanic remnants in the Bering Sea basalt province. Here, major and trace element contents of olivine phenocrysts from St. Paul lavas have been investigated to constrain pre-eruptive magmatic conditions and estimate time scales using Fe–Mg interdiffusion. Additionally, lherzolite xenoliths is host alkali basalts from St. George were investigated to constrain melt extraction and metasomatism of the lithospheric mantle underlying the Pribilof Islands. Trace and rare earth element contents were used to decipher and estimate the degree of partial melting and metasomatism prior to xenolith entrainment and transportation to the surface. These data suggest the source of magmatism for the Pribilof Islands, and likely the Bering Sea basalt province as a whole, is not sourced from mantle xenoliths. Instead, these data suggest magma is sourced from melt-extraction of a primitive mantle source likely initiated by lithospheric extension which triggered decompression melting of a metasomatized upper mantle
Boxed In: Hinge Closing Performance of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata)
No full textTurtles are perhaps best known for the bony shells that encase them, a unique morphological trait that provides protection against predators. Many taxa have even evolved the ability to enclose themselves using hinges that can be used to create a seal between the carapace and plastron. I measured the hinge closing force of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) to assess the performance of this unusual yet ecologically important trait. I sampled head-started turtles from Thomson Sand Prairie in the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and wild turtles collected in northern Oklahoma. To assess the effects of head-starting on predator defense, I compared hinge closure force, behaviors when threatened, and shell morphometrics between the two populations. Wild turtles typically closed immediately and with greater force than head-started turtles. The head-started turtles exhibited bolder behaviors and often were hesitant to seal themselves completely into their shells. Those that were head-started also had disproportionately long plastrons relative to wild turtles, a characteristic that tended to prevent them from creating a tight seal between the plastron and carapace. These results suggest that future head-start efforts should take steps to meliorate maladaptive morphological and behavioral consequences of captivity to maximize anti-predator measures following release
Effects of Lemongrass Factor on Galleria Mellonella Hemocytes
No full textThe use of conventional chemical insecticides to control agricultural pest has become problematic as they may have a negative impact towards human health and the environment, resulting in a need to research alternative methods to insect pest control. Plant derived substances like essential oils have been used for generations as toxicants, repellants, and anti-feedants to control agricultural pest. More research is needed to understand how insect immune systems react to essential oils and if cellular immune responses of phagocytosis, encapsulation, and nodulation can be inhibited by such. Subjecting Galleria mellonella to various concentrations of “lemongrass factor” lets the researcher/scientist know which concentrations to use during experimentation and which concentrations are lethal to our test subject. By challenging the immune system of Galleria mellonella larvae with Sumi ink we activate the immune responses within the system, followed by an injection of “lemongrass factor” or topical application of the same essential oil to dorsal side of larva. This allows determination of what hemocytes are present, their numbers, and if cellular processes like phagocytosis is occurring between the hemocyte profiles. In this present study it was determined that “lemongrass factor” may inhibit cellular processes of insects by lowering numbers of hemocytes present and by lowering the intensity of phagocytosis. Our results suggest that “lemongrass factor” may be suitable as a bio-insecticide to control the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, a known agricultural pest