The Ethics of Actually Helping People: Targeting Skill Acquisition Goals That Promote Meaningful Outcomes for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

As a field that predominately supports individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we have an ethical duty as behavior analysts to ensure that the goals we write and interventions we prescribe promote best outcomes across the lifespan. This is critical, given that as it stands now, outcomes in adulthood for individuals with ASD are poor in every area assessed. The can be interpreted to provide support for teaching the right goals, the right way, with respect to inherent rights of those we serve, in order to help affect positive changes in these outcomes.

The Role of Ca and BK Channels of Locus Coeruleus (LC) Neurons as a Brake to the CO Chemosensitivity Response of Rats.

The cellular mechanisms by which LC neurons respond to hypercapnia are usually attributed to an "accelerator" whereby hypercapnic acidosis causes an inhibition of K channels or activation of Na and Ca channels to depolarize CO-sensitive neurons. Nevertheless, it is still unknown if this "accelerator" mechanism could be controlled by a brake phenomenon. Whole-cell patch clamping, fluorescence imaging microscopy and plethysmography were used to study the chemosensitive response of the LC neurons.

Ventilatory and chemoreceptor responses to hypercapnia in neonatal rats chronically exposed to moderate hyperoxia.

Rats reared in hyperoxia hypoventilate in normoxia and exhibit progressive blunting of the hypoxic ventilatory response, changes which are at least partially attributed to abnormal carotid body development. Since the carotid body also responds to changes in arterial CO/pH, we tested the hypothesis that developmental hyperoxia would attenuate the hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) of neonatal rats by blunting peripheral and/or central chemoreceptor responses to hypercapnic challenges. Rats were reared in 21% O (Control) or 60% O (Hyperoxia) until studied at 4, 6-7, or 13-14days of age.

Effect of curative parathyroidectomy on insulin resistance.

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is characterized by inappropriately elevated serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level despite elevated serum calcium. Insulin resistant is the basic pathophysiology, behind the higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus in patients with PHPT. However, the improvement in insulin resistance (IR) after curative parathyroidectomy (CPTX) has not been established yet, as the study results are conflicting.

A Reply to the Commentaries on "School-wide PBIS: An Example of Applied Behavior Analysis Implemented at a Scale of Social Importance" by Horner and Sugai (2015): PBIS is Function over Form: The Clear Behavioral Roots and Opportunities the PBIS Framework presents to the Field of Behavior Analysis Moving Forward.

In the previous issue of Behavior Analysis in Practice (May 2015), a special section of the journal was devoted to positive behavior intervention and support (PBIS). Horner and Sugai (2015) published a manuscript providing an overview of school-wide PBIS describing how PBIS is an example of applied behavior analysis at a scale of social importance. A number of manuscripts providing commentary on the Horner and Sugai manuscript were also published in this special section of the journal.

Microglial Acid Sensing Regulates Carbon Dioxide-Evoked Fear.

Background: Carbon dioxide (CO2) inhalation, a biological challenge and pathologic marker in panic disorder, evokes intense fear and panic attacks in susceptible individuals. The molecular identity and anatomic location of CO2-sensing systems that translate CO2-evoked fear remain unclear. We investigated contributions of microglial acid sensor T cell death-associated gene-8 (TDAG8) and microglial proinflammatory responses in CO2-evoked behavioral and physiological responses.

Anatomical and functional connections between the locus coeruleus and the nucleus tractus solitarius in neonatal rats.

This study was designed to investigate brain connections among chemosensitive areas in newborn rats. Rhodamine beads were injected unilaterally into the locus coeruleus (LC) or into the caudal part of the nucleus tractus solitarius (cNTS) in Sprague-Dawley rat pups (P7-P10). Rhodamine-labeled neurons were patched in brainstem slices to study their electrophysiological responses to hypercapnia and to determine if chemosensitive neurons are communicating between LC and cNTS regions.

School-Wide PBIS: Extending the Impact of Applied Behavior Analysis. Why is This Important to Behavior Analysts?

Horner and Sugai (2015) recently wrote a manuscript providing an overview of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and why it is an example of applied behavior analysis at the scale of social importance. This paper will describe why school-wide PBIS is important to behavior analysts, how it helps promote applied behavior analysis in schools and other organizations, and how behavior analysts can use this framework to assist them in the promotion and implementation of applied behavior analysis at both at the school and organizational level, as well as, the classroom and individual level.

A HCO(3)(-)-dependent mechanism involving soluble adenylyl cyclase for the activation of Ca²⁺ currents in locus coeruleus neurons.

Hypercapnic acidosis activates Ca²⁺ channels and increases intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in neurons of the locus coeruleus, a known chemosensitive region involved in respiratory control. We have also shown that large conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels, in conjunction with this pathway, limits the hypercapnic-induced increase in firing rate in locus coeruleus neurons. Here, we present evidence that the Ca²⁺ current is activated by a HCO(3)(-)-sensitive pathway.

Normobaric hyperoxia (95% O₂) stimulates CO₂-sensitive and CO₂-insensitive neurons in the caudal solitary complex of rat medullary tissue slices maintained in 40% O₂.

We tested the hypothesis that decreasing the control level of O2 from 95% to 40% reduces tissue partial pressure of oxygen (pO2), decreases extracellular nitric oxide (NO) and decreases intracellular superoxide (O2(-)) while maintaining viability in caudal solitary complex (cSC) neurons in slices (∼300-400 μm; neonatal rat P2-22; 34-37°C). We also tested the hypothesis that normobaric hyperoxia is a general stimulant of cSC neurons, including CO2-excited neurons. Whole-cell recordings of cSC neurons maintained in 40% O2 were comparable to recordings made in 95% O2 in duration and quality.

Substance P differentially modulates firing rate of solitary complex (SC) neurons from control and chronic hypoxia-adapted adult rats.

NK1 receptors, which bind substance P, are present in the majority of brainstem regions that contain CO2/H(+)-sensitive neurons that play a role in central chemosensitivity. However, the effect of substance P on the chemosensitive response of neurons from these regions has not been studied. Hypoxia increases substance P release from peripheral afferents that terminate in the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS).

Increasing socioeconomic disparities in adolescent obesity.

Recent reports suggest that the rapid growth in youth obesity seen in the 1980s and 1990s has plateaued. We examine changes in obesity among US adolescents aged 12-17 y by socioeconomic background using data from two nationally representative health surveys, the 1988-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and the 2003-2011 National Survey of Children's Health. Although the overall obesity prevalence stabilized, this trend masks a growing socioeconomic gradient: The prevalence of obesity among high-socioeconomic status adolescents has decreased in recent years, whereas the prevalence of obesity among their low-socioeconomic status peers has continued to increase.

Temperature influences neuronal activity and CO2/pH sensitivity of locus coeruleus neurons in the bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus.

The locus coeruleus (LC) is a chemoreceptive brain stem region in anuran amphibians and contains neurons sensitive to physiological changes in CO2/pH. The ventilatory and central sensitivity to CO2/pH is proportional to the temperature in amphibians, i.e.

Cardiorespiratory effects of gap junction blockade in the locus coeruleus in unanesthetized adult rats.

The locus coeruleus (LC) plays an important role in central chemoreception. In young rats (P9 or younger), 85% of LC neurons increase firing rate in response to hypercapnia vs. only about 45% of neurons from rats P10 or older.

Transient outwardly rectifying A currents are involved in the firing rate response to altered CO2 in chemosensitive locus coeruleus neurons from neonatal rats.

The effect of hypercapnia on outwardly rectifying currents was examined in locus coeruleus (LC) neurons in slices from neonatal rats [postnatal day 3 (P3)-P15]. Two outwardly rectifying currents [4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive transient current and tetraethyl ammonium (TEA)-sensitive sustained current] were found in LC neurons. 4-AP induced a membrane depolarization of 3.

Sensitive and specific discrimination of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Escherichia coli using Raman spectroscopy-a comparison of two multivariate analysis techniques.

The determination of bacterial identity at the strain level is still a complex and time-consuming endeavor. In this study, visible wavelength spontaneous Raman spectroscopy has been used for the discrimination of four closely related Escherichia coli strains: pathogenic enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 and non-pathogenic E.

Religion, networks, and neighborliness: The impact of religious social networks on civic engagement.

A substantial literature has found that religiosity is positively related to individuals' civic engagement and informal helping behavior. Concurrently, social networks as sources of information and encouragement have been suggested as the mechanism underlying phenomena including successful job searches, improved health and greater subjective well-being. In this paper we use data from the Portraits of American Life Study (PALS) to examine whether religiously based social networks explain the well-established relationship between religion and civic engagement.

Postnatal development and activation of L-type Ca2+ currents in locus ceruleus neurons: implications for a role for Ca2+ in central chemosensitivity.

Little is known about the role of Ca(2+) in central chemosensitive signaling. We use electrophysiology to examine the chemosensitive responses of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive oscillations and spikes in neurons of the locus ceruleus (LC), a chemosensitive region involved in respiratory control. We show that both TTX-insensitive spikes and oscillations in LC neurons are sensitive to L-type Ca(2+) channel inhibition and are activated by increased CO(2)/H(+).

The slot graft technique for foot and ankle arthrodesis in a high-risk patient group.

Background: High rates of arthrodesis nonunion have been described in the ankle, hindfoot and midfoot in patients with significant risk factors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate fusion rates, risk of reoperation, postoperative pain scores and patient satisfaction for a slot graft inlay arthrodesis technique used in a high-risk group of foot and ankle patients.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all ankle, hindfoot and midfoot arthrodeses by two foot and ankle surgeons in our institution between January 2000 and January 2009.

Corticosteroid injections in the treatment of foot & ankle disorders: an AOFAS survey.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines for the use of injectable corticosteroids are lacking, and the true incidence of complications is unknown.

Materials And Methods: The 2007--2008 AOFAS membership (969 members) was electronically queried to identify corticosteroid injection practices for certain clinical entities and rates of complications. One hundred ninety-seven surveys were returned.