“It takes two to make a thing go right”: The coevolution of technological and mathematical tools in neuroscience

Some philosophers of neuroscience have recently argued that the history of neuroscience is principally a history of technological tool development. Across these claims, there is little to no mention of data analysis methods nor their underlying assumptions. Here, I argue that mathematical tools have played crucial roles in the history of neuroscience. First, I present the Hodgkin-Huxley model as an example of research constrained by technological limitations and mathematical assumptions. Second, I highlight scale-free neuronal dynamics and explain how that discovery required both technological and mathematical advancements. I conclude by discussing consequences for explanations in neuroscience

More than a Myth: The Benefits of Incorporating Holistic Healing Methods from Native American and Mexican Cultures to Approach Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Treatment

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a substance use disorder that characterizes a dependence on and an addiction to opioids. Opioids attack the prefrontal cortex, the dopaminergic reward system, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which is responsible for the body’s stress response. Opioids constantly shift one’s “set point” to the point where normal actions that cause joy and excitement no longer cause those feelings, resulting in craving and dependence. The opioid epidemic is currently ravaging the United States and has disproportionately affected Native American populations specifically in the rural areas (Tipps, et.al, 2018). The current methods for addressing OUD include medicine and is more formally called medical assisted treatment (MAT). Different agonist and antagonist medicines are utilized, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone, and occasionally Patient Centered Care (PCC) is an aspect of OUD treatment. This treatment style leaves gaps in the patients’ personal development, mental health, and confidence and self-esteem building. Therefore, this proposal will attempt to combine culturally holistic methods with MAT in order to fill those gaps and address aspects relating to the patient’s internal development post-addiction. Using a range of tests ranging from sobriety retention rate, to familial re-integration using the Family Environmental Scale (FES), to urinary cortisol levels, and finally neuroimaging using fMRI and EEG on two groups of OUD patients with Native American or Mexican heritage (n=45). Culturally holistic methods will be a combination of Native American and Mexican indigenous healing methods. The first group will only receive MAT while the second group will receive both MAT and culturally holistic methods, in order to compare the effects of this additional healing approach. We expect that the second group will consistently outperform group one on all tests due to the increased attention to their personal development and attention to mental health

De la lengua materna y sus historias

Este artículo se propone rastrear relaciones entre mito, lengua y paisaje en algunos poemas del poeta peruano José Watanabe (1946-2007). Pensar en la lengua es también pensar en el hogar, pero sobre todo pensar en la madre, que es la que cría a los hijos y los nutre de lengua. Por el otro lado, pensar el espacio es pensar el paisaje, y el paisaje lleva a la tierra, al suelo en el que se asienta el hogar. Tierra y hogar están vinculados, y por lo tanto la lengua y el paisaje también lo están. La poesía se une a ambos y se desarrolla a partir de éstos, pero ésta a su vez nutre a la lengua y reinventa el paisaje. Mito, paisaje y lengua serán los hilos desde los cuales alumbrar algunos ángulos de la poética de Watanabe.The purpose of this essay is to trace the relation between myth, language and landscape in some of the works of Peruvian poet José Watanabe (1946-2007). To think on language is also to think of home, but above all is to think of the Mother, the one who raises her children and nurtures them with language. On the other hand, to think about space, is to think of landscape, and landscape recalls earth, it refers us to the land where our home lays. Land and home are bind; therefore language and landscape are also bind to get her. Poetry links to both of them and develops from these links, but poetry also nurtures language and recreates landscapes. Myth, landscape and language will be the beams that will light up some aspects of Watanabe's poetics.Aquest article proposa indagar relacions entre mite, llengua i paisatge en alguns poemes del poeta peruà José Watanabe (1946-2007). Pensar en la llengua és també pensar en la llar, però sobretot pensar en la mare, que és la que cria els fills i els nodreix de llengua. Per altra banda, pensar l'espai es pensar el paisatge, i el paisatge du a la terra, el sòl en el que s'assenta la llar. La terra i la llar estan vinculats, i per tant la llengua i el paisatge també ho estan. La poesia s'uneix a tots dos i es desenvolupa a partir d'aquests, però aquesta a la vegada nodreix la llengua i reinventa el paisatge. Mite, paisatge i llengua seran els fils des dels quals il·luminar alguns angles de la poètica de Watanabe

“It takes two to make a thing go right”: The coevolution of technological and mathematical tools in neuroscience

Some philosophers of neuroscience have recently argued that the history of neuroscience is principally a history of technological tool development. Across these claims, there is little to no mention of data analysis methods nor their underlying assumptions. Here, I argue that mathematical tools have played crucial roles in the history of neuroscience. First, I present the Hodgkin-Huxley model as an example of research constrained by technological limitations and mathematical assumptions. Second, I highlight scale-free neuronal dynamics and explain how that discovery required both technological and mathematical advancements. I conclude by discussing consequences for explanations in neuroscience

Unlocking the Energy Within; A Journey Through Healing and Evolution

Through a series of acrylic paintings and watercolors, I set out to document emotions, feelings, and experiences that I’ve had through my personal process of healing. By engaging in meditations for each piece, I was able to decide on a set of motifs, symbols, colors, and messages that I wanted to portray. This paper discusses in more detail how I went about this process and what the significance of each piece is, in addition to my inspiration, my identity and its impacts on the work, as well as what I learned from this process. I argue that as we unravel our egos and peel back layers we can get to our true selves; in doing that we will be able to build ourselves back up after learning what caused pain and how to grow from that point. As an artist I have grown immensely by stepping out of my comfort zone to work primarily with painting and gestures, and it was completely fulfilling, and I believe I was able to translate my messages through this series of works. In the future, as personal development does not just stop, I hope to continue this series and I will have a chance to do that next semester and add onto this project. While this project’s main message was healing, I am hoping to choose another theme for the next leg of the project, maybe regarding confidence and expression

POPULATION VARIATION IN THE ENDEMIC PINUS CULMINICOLA DETECTED BY RAPD

Pinus culminicola, piñonero enano que crece en las partes más elevadas que cualquierpino del grupo Cembroides, es endémicodel Noreste de México y está enlistadocomo especie amenazada. Con la intención de examinar los niveles y patrones devariación genética entre poblaciones deP. culminicola para determinar su gradode aislamiento genético y la ocurrenciade flujo genético entre poblaciones, setomaron muestras en dos localidades de suárea de distribución restringida en la SierraMadre Oriental y se analizaron utilizandoRAPDs.Los cinco primers probados para elanálisis de P. culminicola mostraron patrones de bandeo con un alto grado de reproducibilidad y una resolución clarade las bandas. Estos primers arrojaronun total de 72 bandas distintas, de lascuales 52 fueron polimorfas a través detodas las muestras. La diversidad gené-tica fue alta en las dos poblaciones conun porcentaje de polimorfismo de 53.7%y un grado de diversidad medido por elíndice de Shannon de 56%. El total dela variación encontrada entre las dos poblaciones fue de 5.98% (P = 0.0001). Lamayor variación fue dentro de poblaciones(94.02%). Contrario a lo esperado, losniveles de variación entre las poblacionesaisladas de P. culminicola fue baja. Esto sugiere que a pesar de que la especie presentauna distribución restringida y aislada enla Sierra Madre Oriental, el flujo genéticoentre las poblaciones ha sido suficientepara prevenir una pérdida dramática devariación genética y una deriva.Pinus culminicola, the dwarf pinyon,is an endangered species endemic tonortheastern Mexico, where it growsat the highest altitude of any of theCembroides group. In order to determinethe degree of genetic isolation betweenpopulations of P. culminicola and theamount of gene flow between them,samples were obtained from Cerro ElPotosi and Sierra La Viga, two localitieswithin its restricted area of distribution inthe Sierra Madre Oriental, and analyzedusing random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD). The five primers tested for theanalysis showed banding patterns withvery high reproducibility and clear bandresolution. These five primers produceda total of 72 distinct bands, 52 of whichwere polymorphic across the wholesample. The genetic diversity in the twopopulations was high with a percentageof polymorphism of 53.7% and degree ofdiversity measured by the Shannon indexof 56%. The total variation found betweenthe two populations was 5.98% (P =0.0001). Most of the variation was foundwithin populations (94.02%). Contrary toexpectations, the level of genetic variationfound in the two isolated populations washigh but differentiation between them low.This suggests that even though this treeline pine has a restricted and fragmenteddistribution through the Sierra MadreOriental, gene flow between populationshas been sufficient to prevent a dramaticloss of genetic variation and genetic drift

Results of Millikan Library Forced Vibration Testing

This report documents an investigation into the dynamic properties of Millikan Library under forced excitation. On July 10, 2002, we performed frequency sweeps from 1 Hz to 9.7 Hz in both the East-West (E-W) and North-South (N-S) directions using a roof level vibration generator. Natural frequencies were identified at 1.14 Hz (E-W fundamental mode), 1.67 Hz (N-S fundamental mode), 2.38 Hz (Torsional fundamental mode), 4.93 Hz (1st E-Wovertone), 6.57 Hz (1st Torsional overtone), 7.22 Hz (1st N-S overtone), and at 7.83 Hz (2nd E-Wovertone). The damping was estimated at 2.28% for the fundamental E-W mode and 2.39% for the N-S fundamental mode. On August 28, 2002, a modal analysis of each natural frequency was performed using the dense instrumentation network located in the building. For both the E-W and N-S fundamental modes, we observe a nearly linear increase in displacement with height, except at the ground floor which appears to act as a hinge. We observed little basement movement for the E-W mode, while in the N-S mode 30% of the roof displacement was due to basement rocking and translation. Both the E-W and N-S fundamental modes are best modeled by the first mode of a theoretical bending beam. The higher modes are more complex and not well represented by a simple structural system

Mental representations are not necessary for fish consciousness

Woodruff (2017) argues that teleost fishes are capable of phenomenal consciousness. Central to his argument is the assumption that phenomenal consciousness is representational in nature. I think the commitment to a representational theory of consciousness undermines Woodruff’s case for teleost phenomenal consciousness. The reason is that organisms do not need to perceive the world indirectly via mental images/representations in order to have phenomenological experiences. My argument is based on considerations of ecological psychology and comparative ethology