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Understanding the mechanisms behind memory, learning, and behavior is crucial to human development and significant research has been done in this area. Classical and operant conditioning and other theories of learning have elucidated different mechanisms of learning and how it modulates behavior. Even with advances in this area, questions remain on how to unlearn faulty ideas or extinguish maladaptive behaviors. In this paper, a novel theory to improve our understanding of this area is proposed. The theory proposes that as a consequence of the brain's energy efficiency evolutionary adaptations, all learning following memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and repeated reinforcements or strengthening over time, results in a phenomenon called mental representation block. The implications of this block on learning and behavior are significant and broad and include cognitive biases, belief in a creator or God, close-mindedness, dogmatism, physician misdiagnosis, racism, homophobia, and transphobia, susceptibility to deception and indoctrination, hate and love, artificial intelligence and creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Evidence suggests that in convenience stores across the United States (U.S), sales of e-cigarettes (EC) continue to grow, indicating their rising popularity. ECs have been touted as a means for traditional cigarette (TC) smokers to quit smoking. However, the dramatic increase in the number of adolescents and young adults using e-cigarettes (vaping) in America is a cause for concern as their long-term effects remain unknown.Methods: Search was done by accessing PubMed/Medline, EBSCO, and PsycINFO databases. The search string used was "(Cigarettes OR E-Cigarettes* OR Vaping) AND (Oxidative Stress* OR Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)) AND (Adolescents OR Teens OR Young Adults)". The electronic databases were searched for titles or abstracts containing these terms in all published articles between January 1, 1970, and June 30, 2019. Over 3000 articles were found in the first round of search which was filtered to 129 articles.Results: Oxidative Stress is a critical underlying molecular factor that drives the harmful effects of traditional cigarettes. The developing brain is particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of oxidative stress and e-cigarettes just like traditional cigarettes induces oxidative stress. Many e-cigarette components including the flavoring, vapor, e-liquids and metallic coil, trigger oxidative stress, indicating that both nicotine and non-nicotine e-cigarette use may be harmful.Conclusions: E-cigarettes use could potentially play a role in adolescent/young adults social maladjustments including poor learning and academic performance, increased aggressive and impulsive behavior, poor sleep quality, attention deficits, impaired memory, and cognition, and increased depression and suicidal ideation. The government, parents, school authorities and clinicians should be advised on these potentially harmful effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a major public health problem whose prevalence has been rapidly increasing in the United States (U.S), and globally. It is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths globally and contributes to the development of many diseases. The search was limited to studies published in English and other languages involving both animal and human subjects. Articles selected included preclinical studies, randomized clinical trials RCTs, observational studies, meta-analyses, narrative and systemic reviews providing primary quantitative data with a measure of obesity or food addiction as an outcome. Over 5000 articles were found in the first round of search which was filtered to 506 articles. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in food addiction and is both a cause and mediator of obesity. Reactive oxygen species play a direct role in adipogenesis and oxidative stress modulates all factors involved in obesity including genetics, sleep, gut microbiome, insulin, ghrelin, inflammation, adipokines, leptin, stress, HPA axis, and the hypothalamus. The idea of thinking of combating obesity from the lens of calorie count, low carbohydrate, high or low-fat, vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, or animal-based diet is fundamentally wrong. The best way to look at obesity is through the framework of systemic redox homeostasis. Since redox homeostasis is tilted towards increased reactive oxygen species production, and excessive antioxidant intake can result in oxidative stress, an antioxidant and prooxidant food ratio of 2:3 per meal is the ideal nutritional ratio for good health and ideal weight. A ratio of 3:4 is ideal for obese individuals because of their state of chronic oxidative stress and inflammation. Physical activity, sleep quality, psychological stress, maternal prenatal diet and oxidative stress promoting disease conditions are important modulators of oxidative stress and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]