Mindfulness-based and Cognitive-behavior Therapy for Anger-management : an Integrated Approach

This monograph presents an anger-management treatment manual utilizing mindfulness and cognitive-behavior approaches. This program was implemented and evaluated in accordance with Chen\u27s (2005) recommendations for program evaluation. This study employed a single-subject design with a high-school aged individual. Post-session and post-program evaluation forms from the subject and program facilitator, along with pre- and post-program measures in the form of State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) scores, discipline records, and survey/assessment questionnaires from the parent and a teacher were obtained. The Mindfulness-Based and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anger Management program manual received positive ratings for the structure of the sessions, for the content in sessions, for the usefulness of the manual in implementing activities and exercises, and for the suggested readings indicated throughout the manual. Outcome measures for the participant suggested improvements in personal and social functioning. The current study suggests that the integration of mindfulness-based and cognitive-behavioral approaches to treat adolescents with anger-related difficulties is a promising intervention approach that warrants further research

The Effects of Fluoxetine on Aggressive Behaviour in Betta Splendens

Previous studies have shown strong evidence that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Fluoxetine reduces aggression and inhibits learning in Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta Splendens). While this evidence has been replicated across multiple studies, the behavioral mechanism of Fluoxetine on aggressive behavior and learning is still unknown. In particular, Fluoxetine may produce its anti-aggressive effects by altering the motivational arousal component of aggressive responding or through the sedation of motoric activity. In order to examine these two models, a maze-swimming task for access to reinforcing aggressive opportunities was implemented. Based on previous evidence, researchers hypothesized that subjects would have decreased rates of aggressive responding to mirror and live conspecific stimuli when exposed to Fluoxetine than when not being administered the drug through either the blocking of motor or motivational functions. Results from this study indicated that Fluoxetine administration reduces the appetitive properties of aggressive encounters through inhibition of motor processes which impacted the performance of the fish in the task. Based on these results, further studies should focus on the relationship of serotonin pathways on arousal and motor processes in operant and classically conditioned behavior

Motor Impairments of Fluoxetine Administration in Betta Splendens

The serotonergic neural pathway is highly involved in arousal, learning, attentional, and memory functions. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) Fluoxetine functions as a 5HT antagonist on this pathway, leading so many implications on behavioral and neurological function. While evidence from the greater literature has shown significant evidence that Fluoxetine decreases motoric activity in Siamese fighting fish (Betta Splendens) the behavioral mechanism of Fluoxetine on motoric function is still unknown. Fluoxetine may impair the motoric function in subjects through the secondary effect of decreased dopamine transmission in the motor cortex following increased serotonin synthesis in addition to attentional sedation. Additionally, the decrease in motoric behavior may be a byproduct of inhibited motivational processes. In order to examine the experimental question, the movements of 38 Betta Splendens were recorded and analyzed in their home tanks as a supplementary study to an experiment analyzing the effects of Fluoxetine on aggressive responding. Motor behavior recording consisted of measuring grid line-crossings between experimental and control subjects. Results from the experiment indicated that Fluoxetine administration decreases overall motoric behavior and total distance travelled in subjects. These data allow for further investigation into how motor versus motivational processes may be affected by Fluoxetine to produce these results. Results from this study can be projected into a greater understanding of how Fluoxetine and 5HT affects neural motoric behavior processes

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases mediate the enhancing effects of inflammatory mediators on resurgent currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons

Previously we reported that a group of inflammatory mediators significantly enhanced resurgent currents in dorsal root ganglion neurons. To understand the underlying intracellular signaling mechanism, we investigated the effects of inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and protein kinase C on the enhancing effects of inflammatory mediators on resurgent currents in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. We found that the extracellular signal-regulated kinases inhibitor U0126 completely prevented the enhancing effects of the inflammatory mediators on both Tetrodotoxin-sensitive and Tetrodotoxin-resistant resurgent currents in both small and medium dorsal root ganglion neurons. U0126 substantially reduced repetitive firing in small dorsal root ganglion neurons exposed to inflammatory mediators, consistent with prevention of resurgent current amplitude increases. The protein kinase C inhibitor Bisindolylmaleimide I also showed attenuating effects on resurgent currents, although to a lesser extent compared to extracellular signal-regulated kinases inhibition. These results indicate a critical role of extracellular signal-regulated kinases signaling in modulating resurgent currents and membrane excitability in dorsal root ganglion neurons treated with inflammatory mediators. It is also suggested that targeting extracellular signal-regulated kinases-resurgent currents might be a useful strategy to reduce inflammatory pain

IMPACT: The Journal of the Center for Interdisciplinary Teaching and Learning. Volume 9, Issue 1, Winter 2020

Explicitly established to foreground interdisciplinary teaching and learning, Impact also welcomes evidence and discussion of experiential learning. Often the two – interdisciplinary teaching and experiential learning – co-exist. Yet even when they do not, both practices model how to think in myriad ways and to notice how knowledge is constructed. As our winter 2019 issue makes clear, interdisciplinary teaching and learning and experiential learning often begin with questions. Why does it matter that students grapple directly with archival material? What happens when undergraduates practice psychology by training dogs? Do students understand financial literacy? This issue also asks questions about students’ reading habits and faculty expectations of them as readers

Carbon Stable Isotope Analysis of Bison Dentition

Understanding how bison behaved in the past can provide key insights for today\u27s managers, ecologists, and anthropologists. However, the direct application of both historic documentation and modern field observations may not provide the necessary insights for understanding bison behaviors in archeological and paleontological contexts. In order to develop a better understanding of possible behavior within these contexts, we have developed individual foraging histories for 22 Bison bison from the Glenrock Buffalo Jump assemblage of the Plains Late Prehistoric period in Wyoming and four Pleistocene B. priscus from the Ukraine. Incremental stable carbon isotopic values of dental enamel were used to determine foraging histories. The progressive development of enamel allows for samples to be selected that represent distinct periods of an individual\u27s life. Comparison of these dietary patterns among members of a herd can demonstrate foraging behaviors of cohorts and, in turn, the entire assemblage. Application of this high resolution paleodietary technique provides new information on bison behaviors in a paleontological and archaeological context

Temporal Migration Patterns Between Natal Locations of Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds (\u3ci\u3eArchilochus colubris\u3c/i\u3e) and Their Gulf Coast Stopover Site

Background Autumn latitudinal migrations generally exhibit one of two different temporal migration patterns: type 1 where southern populations migrate south before northern populations, or type 2 where northern populations overtake southern populations en route. The ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is a species with an expansive breeding range, which allows opportunities to examine variation in the timing of migration. Our objective was to determine a relationship between natal origin of ruby-throated hummingbirds and arrival at a Gulf coast stopover site; and if so, what factors, such as differences in body size across the range as well as the cost of migration, might drive such a pattern. To carry out our objectives, we captured hummingbirds at a coastal stopover site during autumn migration, at which time we collected feathers from juveniles for analysis of hydrogen stable isotopes. Using the hydrogen stable isotope gradient of precipitation across North America and published hydrogen isotope values of feathers from populations of breeding ruby-throated hummingbirds, we assigned migrants to probable natal latitudes. Results Our results confirm that individuals from across the range (30–50° N) stopover along the Gulf of Mexico and there is a positive relationship between arrival day and latitude, suggesting a type 1 migration pattern. We also found no relationship between fuel load (proxy for migration cost) or fat-free body mass (proxy for body size) and natal latitude. Conclusions Our results, coupled with previous work on the spatial migration patterns of hummingbirds, show a type 1 chain migration pattern. While the mechanisms we tested do not seem to influence the evolution of migratory patterns, other factors such as resource availability may play a prominent role in the evolution of this migration system

Influence of Summer Biogeography on Wood Warbler Stopover Abundance

We evaluated the effect of summer biogeography of migrant wood warblers (Parulidae) on their stopover abundance. To characterize abundance patterns, we used mistnet capture data from spring and fall migration in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico, spring migration on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, and fall migration on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. To describe the summer biogeography of 47 species of wood warblers, we used indices of their summer range size, their summer density, and distance between their summer ranges and our netting sites. Multiple linear regressions indicated that biogeographic indices explained 55% and 49% of variation in captures in the Middle Rio Grande Valley during spring and fall, respectively. On the Gulf Coast these regressions explained 25% of the variation during spring at the Louisiana site and 51% during fall at the Alabama site. Both summer range size and distance between the summer range and study sites explained significant portions of the variation in three of the four analyses. Interestingly, the importance of biogeographic factors was least evident among spring migrants along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. The difference between this site and other sites may reflect differences between migrants arriving after a Gulf crossing and those migrating across continental land masses or possibly an increased importance of winter biogeography for migrants crossing the Gulf of Mexico in the spring. In general, these results indicate that abundance of migrant warblers at our netting sites in both the eastern and western United States during spring and fall migration were influenced by summer biogeography. Consequently, we suggest including biogeographic analyses in assessments of conservation priorities for local stopover sites

Bacillus Coagulans GBI-30 (BC30) improves indices of Clostridium difficile-Induced colitis in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Probiotics have beneficial effects in rodent models of <it>Clostridium difficile </it>(<it>C. diffiicle</it>)-induced colitis. The spore forming probiotic strain <it>Bacillus Coagulans </it>GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects <it>in vitro</it>. Our goal was to determine if BC30 improved <it>C. difficile</it>-induced colitis in mice. Starting on study day 0, female C57BL/6 mice were dosed by oro-gastric gavage for 15 days with vehicle (saline) or BC30 (2 × 10⁹CFU per day). Mice in the <it>C. difficile </it>groups received an antibiotic mixture (study days 5 to 8 in the drinking water), and clindamycin (10 mg/kg, i.p., on study day 10). The <it>C. difficile </it>strain VPI 10463 was given by gavage at 10⁴CFU to induce colitis on day 11. On day 16, stools and colons were collected for further analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All mice treated with BC30 survived on study day 13, while two mice treated with vehicle did not survive. On day 12, a significant difference (p = 0.0002) in the percentage of mice with normal stools (66.7%) was found in the BC30/<it>C. difficile </it>group, as compared to the vehicle/<it>C. diffcile </it>group (13.0%). On study day 16, 23.8% of mice treated with BC30 had normal stools, while this value was 0% with vehicle treatment (p value = 0.0187). On this day, the stool consistency score for the BC30/<it>C. difficile </it>group (1.1 ± 0.2) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than for the vehicle/<it>C. difficile </it>cohort (1.9 ± 0.2). BC30 modestly attenuated the colonic pathology (crypt damage, edema, leukocyte influx) that was present following <it>C. difficile infection</it>. Colonic MIP-2 chemokine contents (pg/2 cm colon) were: 10.2 ± 0.5 (vehicle/no <it>C. difficile</it>), 24.6 ± 9.5 (vehicle/<it>C. difficile</it>) and 16.3 ± 4.3 (BC30/<it>C. difficle</it>).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The probiotic BC30 improved some parameters of <it>C. difficile</it>-induced colitis in mice. BC30 prolonged the survival of <it>C. diffiicle </it>infected mice. Particularly, this probiotic improved the stool consistency of mice, in this infectious colitis model.</p