cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DFT analysis of Li intercalation mechanisms in the Fe-phthalocyanine cathode of Li-ion batteries

New materials with high intercalation capacity are needed for cathodic materials in order to overcome small capacities at high discharge rates in Li-ion batteries. High intercalation capacities have been reported in the experimental setup using iron phthalocyanine (FePc) as cathodic material; however the real intercalation capacity and the chemistry occurring during the intercalation process are still being debated. In this work we analyze the intercalation of Li atoms in FePc periodic structures using density functional theory including a semi-empirical approach to represent van der Waals (vdW) forces. Within this approach we find intercalation capacities of about 20 Li atoms per FePc molecule at a discharge voltage of ∼0.5 V (with respect to Li/Li+), and up to 37 Li atoms at lower voltages. The intercalation process is driven mainly by electrostatic interactions between positively charged Li ions and negatively charged FePc molecules, with vdW interactions playing an essential role in reaching the high number of intercalated Li atoms. The reduction of the central Fe atom leading to charges evolving from +1.2 to −0.2 is responsible for the high intercalation voltage; however the further reduction contributions of N, C, and even H atoms make FePc a suitable cathode for Li-ion battery applications.
A Sweet Tasting Demonstration of Random Occurrences

We describe an active learning demonstration using LifeSavers(r) candy to illustrate the phenomenon of random occurrences. We provide each student with a roll of Five Flavor LifeSavers. In a dyad, students take turns trying to guess the flavor of candy in their mouths when deprived of the senses of sight and smell. Because there are 5 flavors of candy, students have a 20% chance of randomly guessing the correct flavor. In a sample of 49 undergraduates, student performance reflects this chance guessing rate. Students report that this demonstration was informative and enjoyable. Exam results indicate that students mastered the concept of random occurrences. We discuss other uses of this demonstration.
Femtosecond fiber optical parametric oscillators

We report on the generation of <100-fs pulses using a microstructure-fiber-based optical parametric oscillator. We highlight our latest studies of oscillator stability, fiber dispersion optimization, and pump power depletion for these systems.
A study of visual literacy in technical communication textbooks: a work in progress

The design of visual elements such as illustrations, graphics, and photos is a task facing many technical communicators. Practical understanding of the principles of design is necessary for quality print design products with visual elements, but even this may not be adequate for producing illustrations that users can quickly understand in a visual manner. Pairing the principles of print and textbook design with knowledge of visual communication theory aid technical communicators as they develop illustrations that are not only well-designed visually, but easy for audiences to understand. This paper reports the emerging results of a study to determine how well technical communication textbooks support visual learning by the quality and purpose of visual elements. Basic applications of visual communication theory are also interpreted to provide a knowledge base upon which successful print and visual documents can be built.
Basically, Dialysis Is Not Good Enough

In CKD patients, the daily imbalance between endogenous acid production and renal acid excretion gradually leads to worsening metabolic acidosis. Although serum bicarbonate typically reaches a stable nadir, there is accumulating evidence that mild metabolic acidosis in late-stage CKD may cause
Information theoretic derivation of network architecture and learning algorithms

Using variational techniques, the authors derive a feedforward network architecture that minimizes a least squares cost function with the soft constraint that the mutual information between input and output is maximized. This permits optimum generalization for a given accuracy. The architecture resembles local radial basis function networks with two important modifications: a normalization which greatly reduces the data requirements, and an extra set of gradient style weights which improves interpolation. Learning on the linear weights is by linear Kalman filtering. Performing gradient descent on the composite cost function obtains a learning algorithm for the basis function widths which adjusts the widths for good generalization. A set of learning algorithms is obtained. The network and learning algorithms are tested on a set of test problems which emphasize time series prediction. >
Interest-Group Litigation in Federal District Court: Beyond the Political Disadvantage Theory

In contrast to earlier research emphasizing litigation as a strategy for groups unable to succeed in other political arenas, this article proposes that the use of litigation is more generally a function of a group's political and legal resources compared to those of its opponents. Thus, patterns of interest-group litigation might parallel patterns of group activity in other arenas. A survey of interest-group litigation in private civil cases in Minnesota federal district court finds that cases involving regulatory policy attract the highest frequency of group participation, but the greater number of cases involving redistributive policy attracts more group activity overall. District court litigation also includes more citizen groups relative to occupational groups than a survey of interest groups at the national level found. The article concludes that courts may indeed be more receptive to politically disadvantaged litigants than other political arenas are, but that they are also used by powerful groups t...
Scatter correction for full-fan volumetric CT using a stationary beam blocker in a single full scan.

Purpose: Applications of volumetric CT (VCT) are hampered by shading and streaking artifacts in the reconstructed images. These artifacts are mainly due to strong x-ray scatter signals accompanied with the large illumination area within one projection, which lead to CT number inaccuracy, image contrast loss and spatial nonuniformity. Although different scatter correction algorithms have been proposed in literature, a standard solution still remains unclear. Measurement-based methods use a beam blocker to acquire scatter samples. These techniques have unrivaled advantages over other existing algorithms in that they are simple and efficient, and achieve high scatter estimation accuracy without prior knowledge of the imaged object. Nevertheless, primary signal loss is inevitable in the scatter measurement, and multiple scans or moving the beam blocker during data acquisition are typically employed to compensate for the missing primary data. In this paper, we propose a new measurement-based scatter correction algorithm without primary compensation for full-fan VCT. An accurate reconstruction is obtained with one single-scan and a stationary x-ray beam blocker, two seemingly incompatible features which enable simple and efficient scatter correction without increase of scan time or patient dose. Methods: Based on the CT reconstruction theory, we distribute the blocked data over the projection area where primary signals are considered approximately redundant in a full scan, such that the CT image quality is not degraded even with primary loss. Scatter is then accurately estimated by interpolation and scatter-corrected CT images are obtained using an FDK-based reconstruction algorithm. Results: The proposed method is evaluated using two phantom studies on a tabletop CBCT system. On the Catphan©600 phantom, our approach reduces the reconstruction error from 207 Hounsfield unit (HU) to 9 HU in the selected region of interest, and improves the image contrast by a factor of 2.0 in the high-contrast regions. On an anthropomorphic head phantom, the reconstruction error is reduced from 97 HU to 6 HU in the soft tissue region and image spatial nonuniformity decreases from 27% to 5% after correction. Conclusions: Our method inherits the main advantages of measurement-based methods while avoiding their shortcomings. It has the potential to become a practical scatter correction solution widely implementable on different VCT systems.
A microcomputer-controlled complex reaction time instrument

An inexpensive microcomputer system that measures complex reaction time to a visual stimulus is described. This system can determine the rate of gain of information by utilizing a two-, four-, or eight-choice reaction time task encompassed within the same unit. The system turns on randomly chosen lights and monitors the time required for the subject to depress a corresponding switch. Information describing the stimulus and the subject’s response are printed on a Teletype after each response.
Low Breastfeeding Rates and Public Health in the United States

The medical community has orchestrated breastfeeding campaigns in response to low breastfeeding rates twice in US history. The first campaigns occurred in the early 20th century after reformers linked diarrhea, which caused the majority of infant deaths, to the use of cows' milk as an infant food. Today, given studies showing that numerous diseases and conditions can be prevented or limited in severity by prolonged breastfeeding, a practice shunned by most American mothers, the medical community is again inaugurating efforts to endorse breastfeeding as a preventive health measure. This article describes infant feeding practices and resulting public health campaigns in the early 20th and 21st centuries and finds lessons in the original campaigns for the promoters of breastfeeding today.
A randomized evaluation of different approaches to coronary sinus venography during biventricular pacemaker implants.

Aim Biventricular implantation procedures require contrast venogra- phy of the coronary sinus. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of contrast venography obtained by direct manual contrast injection into the guiding catheter, compared with venography obtained after occlusion of the coronary sinus by a SwaneGanz catheter. Methods Eighty-three patients were randomly assigned to direct or occlusive venography technique. The primary endpoint was complication rate. The secondary endpoints were rate of and time required for an adequate venography, total dose of contrast medium and total procedure time. Results Four dissections of the coronary sinus were observed with the occlusive venography technique group while no complications were observed with the direct venography technique group (pZ 0.04). Rate of adequate venography was similar in the two groups (pZ NS). The time needed for coronary sinus venography and the total dose of contrast medium was significantly lower in the direct venography technique group compared with the alternative (p ! 0.0001 and p Z 0.003, respectively); the total procedure time was not significantly different between the two groups (p ZNS).
Flower Phenology and Pollen Choice of Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Central Virginia

Abstract Interest in native bees as alternative pollinators of agricultural crops has greatly increased in recent years. These bees do not produce honey but are often excellent pollinators, not aggressive, and not subject to a multitude of pest and regulatory problems. Herein we report the results of a 2-yr study of the eastern subspecies of Osmia lignaria Say, a univoltine, early-spring, mason bee. Our objective was to determine pollen choice of a wild population of O. lignaria lignaria Say throughout the period of nest construction and relate this to the phenology of local floral resources. Artificial nesting sites were provided and pollen provisions were sampled from nest cells constructed over a 7-wk period. Pollen was identified and quantified with scanning electron microscopy. Approximately 20 types of pollen were found in bee nest provisions, selected from 80 flowering species. Pollen choice changed over time in accord with flower phenology and pollen availability. Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis...
Critiques of language planning: A minority languages perspective

Neo‐Marxist and post‐structural critiques of classical language planning (lp) are examined for their relevance to lp on behalf of minority languages. The criticisms are: (1) lp is conducted by elites that are governed by their own self‐interest; (2) lp reproduces rather than overcomes sociocultural and econotechnical inequalities; (3) lp planning inhibits or counteracts multiculturalism; (4) lp espouses worldwide Westernisation and modernisation leading to a new sociocultural, econotechnical and conceptual colonialism; (5) only ethnography can save lp research from fostering the above‐mentioned evils.
Initial evaluation of hepatic T1 relaxation time as an imaging marker of liver disease associated with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a potentially lethal multi-organ disease affecting both the kidneys and the liver. Unfortunately, there are currently no non-invasive methods to monitor liver disease progression in ARPKD patients, limiting the study of potential therapeutic interventions. Herein, we perform an initial investigation of T1 relaxation time as a potential imaging biomarker to quantitatively assess the two primary pathologic hallmarks of ARPKD liver disease: biliary dilatation and periportal fibrosis in the PCK rat model of ARPKD. T1 relaxation time results were obtained for five PCK rats at 3 months of age using a Look-Locker acquisition on a Bruker BioSpec 7.0 T MRI scanner. Six three-month-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were also scanned as controls. All animals were euthanized after the three-month scans for histological and biochemical assessments of bile duct dilatation and hepatic fibrosis for comparison. PCK rats exhibited significantly increased liver T1 values (mean ± standard deviation = 935 ± 39 ms) compared with age-matched SD control rats (847 ± 26 ms, p = 0.01). One PCK rat exhibited severe cholangitis (mean T1 = 1413 ms), which occurs periodically in ARPKD patients. The observed increase in the in vivo liver T1 relaxation time correlated significantly with three histological and biochemical indicators of biliary dilatation and fibrosis: bile duct area percent (R = 0.85, p = 0.002), periportal fibrosis area percent (R = 0.82, p = 0.004), and hydroxyproline content (R = 0.76, p = 0.01). These results suggest that hepatic T1 relaxation time may provide a sensitive and non-invasive imaging biomarker to monitor ARPKD liver disease.
Decompression of the Jugular Bulb for Enhanced Infralabyrinthine Access to the Petroclival Region: A Quantitative Analysis.

Objectives To describe an enhanced infralabyrinthine approach to petroclival lesions with jugular bulb decompression, and to quantify surgical access using a flat-panel computed tomography image protocol. Design Retrospective case series and paired comparison of pre- versus post-dissection anatomy. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Participants Four patients presenting with petroclival lesions. Six fresh cadaveric specimens were used for temporal bone dissection. Main Outcome Measures Axial and coronal dimensions, and access angles of the infralabyrinthine surgical corridor. Results Decompression of the jugular bulb increased the craniocaudal width of the infralabyrinthine corridor from 0.9 to 7.9 mm to 6.5 to 11.6 mm. The mean increase of 4 mm was statistically significant ( t = 3.7; p t = 3.7; p t = 5.0; p t = 2.5; p = .05). Conclusions Jugular bulb decompression enhances infralabyrinthine access to petroclival lesions, permitting the removal of tissue for diagnoses or partial resection, without significant additional morbidity.
Novel optical fibers for data center applications

We discuss new optical fibers for high data rate short reach systems in data center applications. We review first recent development in MMF to improve system performance including high bandwidth MMF, bend insensitive MMF and MMF optimized for high bandwidth at longer wavelengths of 1060 nm or 1310 nm. Then we present a new universal fiber that can be used for both multimode transmission at 850 nm and single mode transmission at 1310 nm for data centers. Finally, we present a promising solution for high density parallel optical data links by using space division multiplexing (SDM) over multicore fibers and few mode fibers.
Efficiency of Two Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Pheromone-Baited Traps

pheromone-baited Pherocon IC sticky traps that were relatively free of captured moths caught about twice as many male gypsy moths as USDA milk carton traps during natural male flight and also in mark-recapture experiments with laboratory-reared males. Traps stapled to the trunks of trees captured more males than traps hung from small branches >2 m from large trees. Behavioral observations revealed three reasons for the higher catch at Pherocon IC traps. First, more males approached within 2 m of the Pherocon IC traps than the milk canon trap in a given time interval and a higher proportion of males engaged in pheromone-induced, zig-zag flight. Second, of those males that came in contact with either trap type, a higher proportion entered the Pherocon trap. Third, there were fewer escapes from Pherocon traps (10%) than from milk canon traps (28%). Milk canon traps captured 9.6% of those males that approached within 2 m and 44% of those that came in contact with the trap, compared with 20 and 76%, respectively, for Pherocon IC traps.
Magnetic Field-Induced Switching of the Radical-Pair Intersystem Crossing Mechanism in a Donor−Bridge−Acceptor Molecule for Artificial Photosynthesis

A covalent, fixed-distance donor−bridge−acceptor (D−B−A) molecule was synthesized that upon photoexcitation undergoes ultrafast charge separation to yield a radical ion pair (RP) in which the spin−spin exchange interaction (2J) between the two radicals is sufficiently large to result in preferential RP intersystem crossing to the highest-energy RP eigenstate (T+1) at the 350 mT magnetic field characteristic of X-band (9.5 GHz) EPR spectroscopy. This behavior is unprecedented in covalent D−B−A molecules, and is evidenced by the time-resolved EPR (TREPR) spectrum at X-band of 3*D−B−A derived from RP recombination, which shows all six canonical EPR transitions polarized in emission (e,e,e,e,e,e). In contrast, when the RP is photogenerated in a 3400 mT magnetic field, the TREPR triplet spectrum at W-band (94 GHz) of 3*D−B−A displays the (a,e,e,a,a,e) polarization pattern characteristic of a weakly coupled RP precursor, similar to that observed in photosynthetic reaction center proteins, and indicates a switch...
Pirimicarb, an Aphicide Nontoxic to Three Entomophagous Arthropods

To define the selective toxicity of pirimicarb (5,6-dimethyl-2-dimethylamino-4-pirimidinyl dimethyl carbamate) for use in integrated control, the toxicity of a 50% wettable powder and a fumigant were tested vs. 1 pest and 3 beneficial arthropod species. Although pirimicarb was highly toxic to the green peach aphid ( Myzus persicae (Sulzer)) it was not toxic to Chrysopa carnea Stephens, Encarsia formosa Gahan, and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot. Therefore, pirimicarb could be a particularly useful pesticide in a multipest, integrated control program for greenhouse crop production where aphids, whiteflies and mites coexist.
Harmonic Analysis of Power Grid Based on Power System Analysis Software ETAP

This paper addresses the harmonic problems caused by nonlinear loads and accession of the renewable energy system.First,the main functions and features of the power system analysis software ETAP are introduced.The model of the example is then established with this software.The harmonic simulation analysis is conducted on the model;meanwhile,the same simulation is made on EMTDC and PSASP,other two power system analysis softwares,and the export data is obtained for comparison so as to gain a further understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the ETAP in Harmonic Analysis.Then changes are made on the original model such as revising the short-circuit capacity of the high voltage network,reducing the number of transformers put into operation,changing the transformer's resistance and increasing the motor load capacity.Comparisons are made between the simulation results and those obtained by theoretical calculations.The impacts caused by changes of the parameters of the power system equipment on the frequency and amplitude of the system parallel resonance as well as the harmonic distortion are analyzed.Because of the superior performance,the ETAP software can be used as a powerful tool to make the prior harmonic simulation to reduce the degree of harmonic distortion in the system,and the resonance analysis can help to avoid the resonance position to improve the power quality when we make planning of large-sized power system and address problems in the power energy assessment.
Determination of schizandrin in ganling by ultraviolet spectrophotometry

Objective To study the measurement of schizandrin in ganling by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and make a methodological observation.Methods The ganling was concentrated,constant volume,ultrasonic treatment,dilution steps,schisandrin were measured in 254 nm wavelength by UV spectrophotometer.Results This method had good correlation(R2= 0.999 5) between 0.006-0.078 mg/ml,the coefficient of recovery was 98.33%-98.79%,the relative standard deviation was 0.34%-0.85%.Conclusion With high accuracy and precision,this method can meet the need of detecting the schizandrin in ganling.
Study of composite chaotic sequence for power line spread spectrum communication

Facing to low-voltage power line spread spectrum communication, a novel method of creating composite chaotic spread spectrum sequence based on Tent chaos sequence is proposed. The presented algorithm generates the spread spectrum sequence by quantifying the multiplication result of two independent chaos sequences, such as the Tent chaos sequence. The frequency response and noise characteristics of power line communication (PLC) channel are researched, and the typical channel model of PLC is built as well. The performance of the proposed composite chaotic spread spectrum sequence is verified by applying it to the spread spectrum PLC system model. Experimental result shows that compared with the traditional chaotic sequence, the direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) PLC system using the composite chaotic sequence generated by the proposed algorithm can guarantee the same BER on the condition that its SNR is 3 dB lower than the DSSS system using traditional single sequence.
Progesterone treatment in two rat models of ocular ischemia

Purpose To determine whether the neurosteroid progesterone, shown to have protective effects in animal models of traumatic brain injury, stroke, and spinal cord injury, is also protective in ocular ischemia animal models. Methods Progesterone treatment was tested in two ocular ischemia models in rats: a rodent anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (rAION) model, which induces permanent monocular optic nerve stroke, and the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, which causes transient ischemia in both the retina and brain due to an intraluminal filament that blocks the ophthalmic and middle cerebral arteries. Visual function and retinal histology were assessed to determine whether progesterone attenuated retinal injury in these models. Additionally, behavioral testing and 2% 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining in brains were used to compare progesterone's neuroprotective effects in both retina and brain using the MCAO model. Results Progesterone treatment showed no effect on visual evoked potential (VEP) reduction and retinal ganglion cell loss in the permanent rAION model. In the transient MCAO model, progesterone treatment reduced (1) electroretinogram (ERG) deficits, (2) MCAO-induced upregulation of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and (3) retinal ganglion cell loss. As expected, progesterone treatment also had significant protective effects in behavioral tests and a reduction in infarct size in the brain. Conclusions Progesterone treatment showed protective effects in the retina following MCAO but not rAION injury, which may result from mechanistic differences with injury type and the therapeutic action of progesterone.
Globalized Green Lanternism

American political commentators have frequently called for the U.S. president to take effective action to improve world economic growth. Such calls are a form of what Matthew Yglesias has dubbed “Green Lanternism”—the unspoken theory that the U.S. president's ability to affect outcomes is primarily affected by his willpower. In this article, I examine the opposite—and more plausible causal relationship—that the power of the U.S. president is shaped by the underlying secular determinant of world economic growth. I go on to examine how we might expect U.S. power and interests in building up a multilateral trading order could largely wither away under conditions of enduring weak economic growth, which some economists have argued is in fact the most plausible long-run growth path for the world economy.
Models of dynamic load coefficient for a two–axle truck obtained from road simulator data

This paper presents the results of analyses of measurements of dynamic tyre forces generated by a two–axle truck with leaf spring suspension in experiments conducted on a hydraulic actuation system (road simulator). The road simulator, called DYNmAC, has four actuators equipped with load scales to measure dynamic forces applied by the truck wheels. The dynamic tyre forces are characterised by a Dynamic Load Coefficient (DLC) defined as the ratio of standard deviation over mean tyre force. The test variables were: tyre type (standard radial dual, low–profile dual, and wide–base "super single" tyre), tyre inflation pressure, vehicle speed, wheel static load, and road roughness. The DLC values obtained for the two dual tyres were very similar for all combinations of test variables. The wide–base tyre produced DLC's 10 to 12 percent lower than each of the dual tyres. Linear regression models were developed for each of the three tyre types, relating DLC to tyre inflation pressure, vehicle speed, wheel static load, and road roughness. One hundred and forty–four (144) data points were used in deriving each model. The effects of the test variables on DLC were similar for all tyres. Based on the regression results, the test variables can be ranked in terms of their effect on DLC as follows: vehicle speed (strongest effect), road roughness, wheel static load, and tyre inflation pressure (weakest effect). The pavement damage potential of the three types of tyres was evaluated using Eisenmann's road stress factor. The results indicate that the wide–base tyre is likely to cause pavement damage twice as large as each of the dual tyres.
A dopamine receptor genetic variant enhances perceptual speed in cognitive healthy subjects

Cognition is under strong genetic control, yet the specific genes are unknown. To investigate genetic influences on specific cognitive domains, 153 cognitive healthy subjects of European ancestry from the Reference Abilities Study (RANN) were genotyped for 1,160 variants within 446 neuropsychiatric genes. Adjusted linear regression models evaluated the association between the genetic variants and four reference abilities, which capture variance in age-related cognitive function (Vocabulary, Episodic Memory, Perceptual Speed, and Reasoning). 159 variants nominally significant in the RANN cohort were then re-evaluated in an independent cohort of 868 cognitive healthy subjects from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory Aging Project. Meta-analysis yielded a Bonferroni adjusted statistically significant association between perceptual speed and a variant located in the promoter of the dopamine receptor D4 gene, rs3756450 (β=0.23, SE=0.05, P meta =2.3 × 10-5). Our data suggest that genetic variation in a dopamine pathway gene influences perceptual speed performance in cognitively healthy individuals.
A multiple-predictor approach to human motion prediction

The ability to accurately predict human motion is imperative for any human-robot interaction application in which the human and robot interact in close proximity to one another. Although a variety of human motion prediction approaches have already been developed, they are often designed for specific types of tasks or motions, and thus do not generalize well. Furthermore, it is not always obvious which of these methods is appropriate for a given task, making human motion prediction difficult to implement in practice. We address this problem by introducing a multiple-predictor system (MPS) for human motion prediction. In our approach, the system learns directly from task data in order to determine the most favorable parameters for each implemented prediction method and which combination of these predictors to use. Our implementation consists of three complementary methods: velocity-based position projection, time series classification, and sequence prediction. We describe the process of forming the MPS and our evaluation of its performance against the individual methods in terms of accuracy of predictions of human position over a range of look-ahead time values. We report that our method leads to a reduction in mean error of 18.5%, 28.9%, and 37.3% when compared with the three individual methods, respectively.
The Many Conflicting Visions of ‘Safety Case’

Safety cases and other assurance cases have been produced, reviewed, researched, and written about for decades [1]. Definitions of safety case agree on principles such as the use of evidence and (recently) the central role of argument. But the literature seemingly reflects both multiple forms and multiple visions of safety case. Each vision is a school of thought on what safety cases are, what value they deliver to which stakeholders, and how they generate that value. We hypothesize that (1) the community uses several different visions of safety case and (2) no one safety case form suits all visions. If both hypotheses are true, identifying and distinguishing the visions will facilitate more productive research and policymaking. In this paper, we identify both seven existing visions and five inconsistencies in what they demand of arguments. We have not identified a complete set of visions and are not the first to note apparent differences in the use of the term safety case [2]. We do not claim to perfectly capture any school of thought on safety cases. Our contribution lies in (i) identifying a divergence of meanings that seems to be frustrating research and policy making and (ii) beginning to define the common language and hypotheses needed for fruitful research.
Transsphenoidal Surgery for Cushing’s Disease

The first line of treatment in Cushing’s disease is surgical resection. All patients with clinical evidence of Cushing’s disease should receive a full work-up to determine the source of the hypercortisolemia. Referral to a neurosurgeon is only necessary if the source of the endocrinopathy is suspected to be the pituitary gland. However, we believe that neurosurgeons operating on patients with Cushing’s disease must understand the preoperative work-up and be secure in the results along with the endocrine team. Mistakes in diagnosis are a frequent event when dealing with these patients. We will not review all the endocrine testing here.
An evolutionary perspective on nutrition and social decision making

We were intrigued by findings reported by Strang et al. (1) that the balance of carbohydrate to protein in a breakfast preparation influenced subsequent human social decision making. Specifically, compared with a low-carbohydrate/high-protein breakfast, consumption of a high-carbohydrate/low-protein breakfast increased participants’ tendency to punish violations of social norms, assessed as increased rejection rates of unfair offers in the ultimatum game. Said differently, participants that consumed more protein were more willing to tolerate being taken advantage of, an interpretation of the findings supported by the fact that among a number of biological variables measured, only increased tyrosine was found to mediate the effect of breakfast consumption on subsequent … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: raison{at}wisc.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is common in patients receiving anticancer treatment and can affect survivability and long-term quality of life of the patient following treatment. The symptoms of CIPN primarily include abnormal sensory discrimination of touch, vibration, thermal information, and pain. There is currently a paucity of pharmacological agents to prevent or treat CIPN. The lack of efficacious therapeutics is due, at least in part, to an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms by which chemotherapies alter the sensitivity of sensory neurons. Although the clinical presentation of CIPN can be similar with the various classes of chemotherapeutic agents, there are subtle differences, suggesting that each class of drugs might induce neuropathy via different mechanisms. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to underlie the development and maintenance of neuropathy; however, most pharmacological agents generated from preclinical experiments have failed to alleviate the symptoms of CIPN in the clinic. Further research is necessary to identify the specific mechanisms by which each class of chemotherapeutics induces neuropathy.
Vagal Control on Exercise-Induced Hyperpnea in Conscious Dogs

It has been well-known that exercise increases ventilatory variables in humans and in animals1,2 This “exercise-induced hyperpnea” are characterized as 1) quick response of ventilatory parameters, 2) isocapnic or hypocapnic hyperpnea and 3) disproportinately augmented ventilation compared to exercise-induced metabolism.
The Religious Dimensions of Giving and Volunteering

At present, approximately half of all charitable giving from individual donors in the United States goes to religious organizations, most of which use some of these funds for a wide variety of services to their communities. A substantial share of volunteer time is also donated to these organizations, and religious convictions are one of the primary motivations given for volunteering, prompting religiously involved people to give and volunteer at rates higher than the national average. For these reasons, measurement of religious commitment has become a significant aspect of recent research on the nonprofit sector (Wuthnow & Hodgkinson, 1991). This chapter examines the contribution that research, sponsored in recent years by the Independent Sector, has made to knowledge of the relationships among religion, giving, and volunteering. It then offers a critical assessment of this contribution and suggests ways to measure religious commitment that have proven helpful in other studies and that might be use-fully incorporated into future work on the impact of giving and volunteering. Finally, several specific areas are identified in which further research might be especially valuable.
SRPV: A Scalable Revocation Scheme for Pseudonyms-Based Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks

The cryptographic credentials of misbehaving vehicles should be revoked in a timely manner to prevent jeopardizing the network. However, the revocation is a challenging problem in VANETs because of its stringent privacy requirements and the large network scalability. Each vehicle receives a large number of unlinkable certified pseudonyms to protect privacy. Large storage and computation are required to store the revocation list and verify the authenticity of messages, respectively. In this paper, we propose a scalable revocation scheme that reduces the revocation list storage overhead and the revocation checking delay in pseudonym-based VANETs. The revocation of vehicle's credentials is achieved by adding a single trapdoor in a revocation list. The vehicles use the published trapdoors for revocation check by computing simple operations instead of sequentially searching a large set of pseudonyms. Chameleon hashing is used to generate the pseudonyms and revoke them if needed. Using computationally efficient multi-signature, vehicles can cooperatively vote to revoke the credentials of a misbehaved vehicle. The objective of using multi-signature is to increase the creditability of revocation requests. Our experiments and extensive evaluations show that our scheme can revoke a large number of pseudonyms with minimum storage and computation overhead.
Energy-Aware CPU Frequency Scaling for Mobile Video Streaming

The energy consumed by video streaming includes the energy consumed for data transmission and CPU processing, which are both affected by the CPU frequency. High CPU frequency can reduce the data transmission time but it consumes more CPU energy. Low CPU frequency reduces the CPU energy but increases the data transmission time and then increases the energy consumption. In this paper, we aim to reduce the total energy of mobile video streaming by adaptively adjusting the CPU frequency. Based on real measurement results, we model the effects of CPU frequency on TCP throughput and system power. Based on these models, we propose an Energy-aware CPU Frequency Scaling (EFS) algorithm which selects the CPU frequency that can achieve a balance between saving the data transmission energy and CPU energy. Since the downloading schedule of existing video streaming apps is not optimized in terms of energy, we also propose a method to determine when and how much data to download. Through trace-driven simulations and real measurement, we demonstrate that the EFS algorithm can reduce 30 percent of energy for the Youtube app, and the combination of our download method and EFS algorithm can save 50 percent of energy than the default Youtube app.
Validation of training levels in endoscopic endonasal surgery of the skull base.

Objective A five-level training program was first proposed 10 years ago for surgeons learning endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) of the skull base. Levels were based on the complexity of anatomy, risk of neurovascular injury, intradural dissection, technical difficulty and vascularity of tumors. Method A three-phase validation concept is proposed: 1) face validity (the classification is related to clinically significant elements), 2) construct validity (the classification predicts the outcome), and 3) inter-team validation (the classification applies to other surgical teams). Consecutive cases over a 1-year time span were retrospectively classified. Primary outcome measures included: complication rates (cranial nerve injury, stroke and vascular injury, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] leak and infection), estimated blood loss and duration of surgery. Results Two hundred and nine consecutive cases were analyzed. The distribution of cases for each category was: 63 cases in level II, 70 cases in level III, 66 cases in level IV, and 10 cases in level V. Construct validity demonstrated statistical difference with increasing rate of complications from level II to level III and from level III to level IV; also, specific rates of cranial nerve injury and CSF leak increased between levels III and IV. Face validity identified 162 citations since publication of the original article. Inter-team validation demonstrated no difference between two teams of surgeons. Conclusion This study provides a three-phase validation of training levels for endoscopic skull base surgery. Adoption of a progressive systematic approach to learning EES from least complex to advanced procedures is expected to minimize the risks while surgical teams gain experience. Level of evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 129:2253-2257, 2019.
Real-Time Measurement of Herbicides in the Atmosphere: A Case Study of MCPA and 2,4-D during Field Application

Atmospheric sources of herbicides enable short- and long-range transport of these compounds to off-target areas but the concentrations and mechanisms are poorly understood due, in part, to the challenge of detecting these compounds in the atmosphere. We present chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry as a sensitive, real-time technique to detect chlorinated phenoxy acid herbicides in the atmosphere, using measurements during and after application over a field at Colorado State University as a case study. Gas-phase 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) mixing ratios were greatest during application (up to 20 pptv), consistent with rapid volatilization from spray droplets. In contrast, atmospheric concentrations of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) increased for several hours after the initial application, indicative of a slower source than 2,4-D. The maximum observed gas-phase MCPA was 60 pptv, consistent with a post-application volatilization source to the atmosphere. Exposure to applied pesticides in the gas-phase can thus occur both during and at least several hours after application. Spray droplet volatilization and direct volatilization from surfaces may both contribute pesticides to the atmosphere, enabling pesticide transport to off-target and remote regions.
P076 Do prescriptions for expedited partner therapy get filled? findings from a multi-jurisdictional evaluation, US, 2017–2018

Background Expedited partner therapy (EPT) is commonly provided by prescription, however, the effectiveness of prescription-EPT has not been studied, and will depend on how often prescriptions are filled. We examined whether EPT-prescriptions get filled at retail pharmacies when the cost barrier is removed. Methods Clinical sites diagnosing large numbers of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infections and providing EPT-prescriptions were recruited. An industry partner developed voucher cards redeemable, with prescription, for free azithromycin, 1g, in any pharmacy in states where EPT is legal. Voucher cards were distributed to clinical sites. Providers prescribing EPT recorded index-patient age, gender, and prescription date on a tear-off tab accompanying each card, retained these tabs, and dispensed vouchers, along with EPT-prescriptions, to index-patients. A standard pharmacy interface captured unique voucher codes, prescription data, age, sex of the person redeeming the card. Pharmacy data were downloaded from an industry portal, linked with data from tear-off tabs, and analyzed. We considered redeemed cards a surrogate for filled prescriptions, and assessed patient and provider characteristics associated with redemption. Results During September, 2017-June, 2018, 30 sites in New York City (NYC), New York State outside NYC, and Maryland enrolled; 580 EPT discount cards were dispensed by providers and 40% (234/580) redeemed at pharmacies. Redemption differed significantly by: index-patient gender (women, 44% versus men, 32%, p=0.005), and age in years ( 18, 45%, p 10 cards, redemption was 41% (212/521), range 6–78% (median, 36%); redemption of cards distributed at STD clinics was 38% (51/136). After excluding a high-volume site with an onsite pharmacy, there was no association between index-patient gender and card redemption. Conclusion Less than half of EPT-prescriptions were filled, despite medication being dispensed for free, suggesting prescription-EPT to treat Ct may result in low partner-treatment rates, especially among adolescents. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Adoption of NCLEX-RN for licensure in Canada: Faculty concerns and implications for nursing education.

Abstract This paper highlights questions about Canadian nurse regulators' adoption of the U.S.-based NCLEX-RN examination, effective 2015, as the only route to initial registered nurse licensure in all jurisdictions, excluding Quebec. The decision for this change was made by the Canadian Council of Registered Nurses Regulators (CCRNR), an umbrella association of CEO's of provincial regulatory bodies in collaboration with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Adoption and implementation of this new policy was accomplished by the Council of each provincial regulatory body. This change, representing the first international adoption of NCLEX-RN, was deemed successful by CCRNR and NCSBN. However, the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) described the decision as unilateral and unwise, questioning the applicability of NCLEX-RN in the Canadian context, citing significant French language translation issues and unacceptable pass rates. Both authors have had extensive academic nursing experience in U.S. and Canada. Both had many conversations with Canadian colleagues who described the impact on nursing education as disastrous. Most of our American colleagues knew nothing about this change, but once informed, expressed some concerns similar to those of their Canadian counterparts. We suggest that international adoption of a US-based examination for initial licensure merits wider discussion by nursing faculty here and abroad.
Replacing hydropower with solar

Dam removal is becoming an increasingly common tool to restore rivers. What would it take to replace lost electricity from removed hydroelectric dams with solar power?
Unconditionals and free choice unified

Rawlins (2013: 160) observes that both unconditionals and more classical free choice can be meta-characterized using orthogonality, but does not actually unify the two. One reason may be that in English, different expressions serve in these roles. By contrast, in Hungarian, AKAR expressions serve as NPIs, FCIs, and unconditional adjuncts, but not as interrogatives or free relatives. This paper offers a unified account of the Hungarian data, extending Chierchia 2013 and Dayal 2013. The account produces the same unconditional meanings that Rawlins derives from an interrogative basis. This result highlights the fact that sets of alternatives arise from different morpho-syntactic sources and are utilized by the grammar in different ways, but the results may fully converge.
90 YEARS OF PROGESTERONE: New insights into progesterone receptor signaling in the endometrium required for embryo implantation

Progesterone's ability to maintain pregnancy in eutherian mammals highlighted this steroid as the 'hormone of pregnancy'. It was the unique 'pro-gestational' bioactivity of progesterone that enabled eventual purification of this ovarian steroid to crystalline form by Willard Myron Allen in the early 1930s. While a functional connection between normal progesterone responses ('progestational proliferation') of the uterus with the maintenance of pregnancy was quickly appreciated, an understanding of progesterone's involvement in the early stages of pregnancy establishment was comparatively less well understood. With the aforementioned as historical backdrop, this review focuses on a selection of key advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which progesterone, through its nuclear receptor (the progesterone receptor), drives the development of endometrial receptivity, a transient uterine state that allows for embryo implantation and the establishment of pregnancy. Highlighted in this review are the significant contributions of advanced mouse engineering and genome-wide transcriptomic and cistromic analytics which reveal the pivotal molecular mediators and modifiers that are essential to progesterone-dependent endometrial receptivity and decidualization. With a clearer understanding of the molecular landscape that underpins uterine responsiveness to progesterone during the periimplantation period, we predict that common gynecologic morbidities due to abnormal progesterone responsiveness will be more effectively diagnosed and/or treated in the future.