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American imperial exceptionalism? Texas secondary World History depictions of American empire, 1925–2016
No full textThis article explores the connection between American exceptionalism and empire denialism by examining high-school World History textbooks approved for use in the state of Texas from the 1920s to 2016. Scholarship suggests that the powerful ideology of American exceptionalism is deeply uneasy about the role of the United States as an imperial power in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But despite this widespread assumption, World History textbooks for the past century have routinely labelled the United States an empire, and directly compared US actions with those of European colonising powers. Some textbooks portrayed this as a unique and aberrant time in US history. But other textbook accounts over the past century have made the case that US imperialism brought about material and political benefits to colonised peoples. In other words, a common thread in World History textbooks suggests that America created an exceptional empire. American imperialism was linked to an underlying narrative of the spread of European or Western civilisation, viewed as a cornerstone of modern world history
A Cognitive Computational Approach to Social and Collective Decision-Making
No full textCollective dynamics play a key role in everyday decision-making. Whether social influence promotes the spread of accurate information and ultimately results in adaptive behavior or leads to false information cascades and maladaptive social contagion strongly depends on the cognitive mechanisms underlying social interactions. Here we argue that cognitive modeling, in tandem with experiments that allow collective dynamics to emerge, can mechanistically link cognitive processes at the individual and collective levels. We illustrate the strength of this cognitive computational approach with two highly successful cognitive models that have been applied to interactive group experiments: evidence-accumulation and reinforcement-learning models. We show how these approaches make it possible to simultaneously study (a) how individual cognition drives social systems, (b) how social systems drive individual cognition, and (c) the dynamic feedback processes between the two layers
Broadscale spatial synchrony in a West Nile virus mosquito vector across multiple timescales
No full textInsects often exhibit irruptive population dynamics determined by environmental conditions. We examine if populations of the Culex tarsalis mosquito, a West Nile virus (WNV) vector, fluctuate synchronously over broad spatial extents and multiple timescales and whether climate drives synchrony in Cx. tarsalis, especially at annual timescales, due to the synchronous influence of temperature, precipitation, and/or humidity. We leveraged mosquito collections across 9 National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) sites distributed in the interior West and Great Plains region USA over a 45-month period, and associated gridMET climate data. We utilized wavelet phasor mean fields and wavelet linear models to quantify spatial synchrony for mosquitoes and climate and to calculate the importance of climate in explaining Cx. tarsalis synchrony. We also tested whether the strength of spatial synchrony may vary directionally across years. We found significant annual synchrony in Cx. tarsalis, and short-term synchrony during a single period in 2018. Mean minimum temperature was a significant predictor of annual Cx. tarsalis spatial synchrony, and we found a marginally significant decrease in annual Cx. tarsalis synchrony. Significant Cx. tarsalis synchrony during 2018 coincided with an anomalous increase in precipitation. This work provides a valuable step toward understanding broadscale synchrony in a WNV vector
Data and code for: "Correlative Ecological Niche Model Applications to Predicting Landscape-scale Woody Plant Encroachment in Kansas Tallgrass Prairie Systems"
No full textThis item is a zip file that include all necessary data and R code involved in the ecological niche models associated with the paper
Physiognomy datasets across two sub-montane tropical forests: Bakossi National Park and Mt. Nlonako in the continental Cameroon mountains
No full textThe submontane forests in the Congo Basin have not been studied sufficiently in terms of floristic diversity, biomass, and geographic distribution. The region's lack of resources and rugged terrain are among the barriers to sampling biodiversity. This study focuses on two understudied submontane forest areas, Bakossi National Park (BNP) and Mt. Nlonako (MN), which form part of the continental Cameroon Mountains and are believed to have high species diversity and endemism. However, significant gaps exist in biodiversity data across the continental Cameroon Mountains. This study is the first detailed quantitative survey of forests in the BNP and MN through permanent plot sampling. The results of this study can be used to guide policies for managing montane ecosystems in Cameroon and enhancing conservation efforts. The study also provides an opportunity for long-term monitoring of forest health and REDD+ status
First evidence of sexual dimorphism in olfactory organs of deep-sea lanternfishes (Myctophidae)
No full textFinding a mate is of the utmost importance for organisms, and the traits associated with successfully finding one can be under strong selective pressures. In habitats where biomass and population density is often low, like the enormous open spaces of the deep sea, animals have evolved many adaptations for finding mates. One convergent adaptation seen in many deep-sea fishes is sexual dimorphism in olfactory organs, where, relative to body size, males have evolved greatly enlarged olfactory organs compared to females. Females are known to give off chemical cues such as pheromones, and these chemical stimuli can traverse long distances in the stable, stratified water of the deep sea and be picked up by the olfactory organs of males. This adaptation is believed to help males in multiple lineages of fishes find mates in deep-sea habitats. In this study, we describe the first morphological evidence of sexual dimorphism in the olfactory organs of lanternfishes (Myctophidae) in the genus . Lanternfishes are one of the most abundant vertebrates in the deep sea and are hypothesized to use visual signals from bioluminescence for mate recognition or mate detection. Bioluminescent cues that are readily visible at distances as far as 10 m in the aphotic deep sea are likely important for high population density lanternfish species that have high mate encounter rates. In contrast, myctophids found in lower density environments where species encounter rates are lower, like those in , likely benefit from longer-range chemical or olfactory cues for finding and identifying mates
Range-Wide Phylogeography and Ecological Niche Modeling Provide Insights into the Evolutionary History of the Mongolian Racerunner () in Northeast Asia
No full textThe Mongolian racerunner, , is a small lizard endemic to Northeast Asia that can serve as an excellent model for investigating how geography and past climate change have jointly influenced the evolution of biodiversity in this region. To elucidate the processes underlying its diversification and demography, we reconstructed the range-wide phylogeographic pattern and evolutionary trajectory, using phylogenetic, population genetic, landscape genetic, Bayesian phylogeographic reconstruction and ecological niche modeling approaches. Phylogenetic analyses of the mtDNA cyt gene revealed eight lineages that were unbounded by geographic region. The genetic structure of was mainly determined by geographic distance. Divergence dating indicated that and diverged during the Mid-Pliocene Warm Period. was estimated to have coalesced at~0.4351 Ma (Marine Isotope Stage 19). Bayesian phylogeographic diffusion analysis revealed out-of-Inner Mongolia and rapid colonization events from the end of the Last Interglacial to the Last Glacial Maximum, which is consistent with the expanded suitable range of the Last Glacial Maximum. Pre-Last Glacial Maximum growth of population is presented for most lineages of The Glacial Maximum contraction model and the previous multiple glacial refugia hypotheses are rejected. This may be due to an increase in the amount of climatically favorable habitats in Northeast Asia. Furthermore, most likely represents an invalid taxon. The present study is the first to report a range-wide phylogeography of reptiles over such a large region in Northeast Asia. Our results make a significant contribution towards understanding the biogeography of the entire Northeast Asia
The combination of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin e-cigarette aerosols induces airway inflammation and mucus hyperconcentration
No full textDespite concerns over their safety, e-cigarettes (e-cigs) remain a popular tobacco product. Although nicotine and flavors found in e-cig liquids (e-liquids) can cause harm in the airways, whether the delivery vehicles propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are innocuous when inhaled remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of e-cig aerosols generated from e-liquid containing only PG/VG on airway inflammation and mucociliary function in primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) and sheep. Primary HBEC were cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and exposed to e-cig aerosols of 50%/50% v/v PG/VG. Ion channel conductance, ciliary beat frequency, and the expression of inflammatory markers, cell type-specific markers, and the major mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B were evaluated after seven days of exposure. Sheep were exposed to e-cig aerosols of PG/VG for five days and mucus concentration and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity were measured from airway secretions. Seven-day exposure of HBEC to e-cig aerosols of PG/VG caused a significant reduction in the activities of apical ion channels important for mucus hydration, including the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and large conductance, Ca-activated, and voltage-dependent K (BK) channels. PG/VG aerosols significantly increased the mRNA expression of the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL6), IL8, and MMP9, as well as MUC5AC. The increase in MUC5AC mRNA expression correlated with increased immunostaining of MUC5AC protein in PG/VG-exposed HBEC. On the other hand, PG/VG aerosols reduced MUC5B expression leading overall to higher MUC5AC/MUC5B ratios in exposed HBEC. Other cell type-specific markers, including forkhead box protein J1 (FOXJ1), keratin 5 (KRT5), and secretoglobin family 1A member 1 (SCGB1A1) mRNAs, as well as overall ciliation, were significantly reduced by PG/VG exposure. Finally, PG/VG aerosols increased MMP-9 activity and caused mucus hyperconcentration in sheep in vivo. E-cig aerosols of PG/VG induce airway inflammation, increase MUC5AC expression, and cause dysfunction of ion channels important for mucus hydration in HBEC in vitro. Furthermore, PG/VG aerosols increase MMP-9 activity and mucus concentration in sheep in vivo. Collectively, these data show that e-cig aerosols containing PG/VG are likely to be harmful in the airways
Bibliography of Periodical Literature on the Druze in 2023
No full textThis article lists peer-reviewed books, book chapters, and articles published in English in 2023 relevant to Druze Studies. The classification of entries occurs under the following headings: Biology & Health; Education; History; Language & Literature; Politics; Religious Studies; Socioeconomics; and Women, Gender, & Sexuality. The survey included 67 entries in 2023. Through this investigation and the organization of the literature along with the categorization, a few patterns emerged, revealing trends and gaps in the academic literature on the Druze community. The relative lack of coverage on education, language and literature, and religious studies reveals a general gap in the literature on these subjects. However, in several of the other, more robust categories, such as biology & health, politics, socioeconomics, and women, gender, & sexuality, a disproportionate regional focus began to emerge. In these categories and in 2023 literature on the Druze as a whole, a majority of work focused explicitly or in large part on the Israeli Druze community, despite Israeli Druze constituting less than ten percent of the overall Druze population
Wolves of the Great Father: Crow and Arikara Involvement in the Great Sioux War of 1876
No full textSubmitted to the Department of History of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for departmental honors.The Great Sioux War of 1876 is perhaps the most famous conflict between the US Army and the militaries of the Indigenous nations. It is the last great conflict between these groups and its conclusion signaled the end of Indigenous dominance over the northern Plains and the fully realized confinement of these nations to increasingly smaller reservations through various treaties and land cessions. This would allow mass Euro-American settlement in the region. Farms, railroads, telegraph lines, and cattle grazing lands took the place of the vast plain that accommodated various nomadic nations and the buffalo. The impact of American expansion was felt by all Indigenous nations of the northern Plains. The role of the Crow and Arikara during the Great Sioux War is intriguing because they allied with the Americans to fight other Indigenous nations such as the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne. While they too would be subject to land cessions and confinement to reservations, the Crow and Arikara believed that it was better to ally with the United States rather than oppose them. They saw the Lakota, who were their traditional enemies, as a greater threat to their existence