cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Law Clerk Who Wrote Rasul v. Bush: John Paul Stevens' Influence from World War II to the War on Terror

This article uncovers the roots of Rasul v. Bush, the landmark Supreme Court decision holding that federal courts have jurisdiction to hear challenges to the detention at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, of foreign nationals captured abroad in the war on terror. Under entrenched views of precedent shared by lower courts, commentators, and the parties alike, the Court could only reach that result by either distinguishing or overruling Johnson v. Eisentrager, a World War II case that had found no jurisdiction for habeas petitioners captured and detained abroad. However, Justice Stevens' opinion for the Court took a more peculiar tack: It declared the case already overruled. Even stranger, the opinion did so by relying on an obscure dissent from an earlier case ignored by everyone else as irrelevant precedent concerning venue rather than jurisdiction. That dissent, in Ahrens v. Clark, was drafted in critical parts by a law clerk for Justice Rutledge named John Paul Stevens. The story of how Justice Stevens ingeniously related Eisentrager to the Ahrens dissent, and thereby reversed their precedential worth in Rasul, is a remarkable one in Supreme Court history. As told in this article, the story reveals the intriguing extent to which Stevens' work in Ahrens over fifty years ago influenced the reasoning if not the result in Rasul. This archaeology is essential for a full understanding of Rasul, as well as an appreciation of the decision's place in the history of the Supreme Court and the jurisprudence of Justice Stevens. The story also supplies insight into Rasul's ramifications on the ability of another important class of captives in the war on terror  those confined abroad outside of Guantanamo Bay  to challenge their detention in federal court.
Superdelegates and the Media: A Comparative Analysis, 1984-2008

Momentum is an important determinant of voting in presidential primaries. One of the principal reasons is that the media tends to treat candidate success with positive coverage. Throughout nominating campaigns, the media consistently reports delegate counts for each competing candidate. Media outlets, however, can choose to report tallies which factor only pledged delegates into the equation, or they can offer those which include both pledged and unpledged delegates (superdelegates). Given the power of momentum in influencing future primaries and caucuses, the choice the media makes is essential to later outcomes. This paper measures the extent to which media reporting on superdelegates varied in 1984 and 2008, two close elections. Front page news stories published the day following each primary and caucus are obtained. These reports are coded to gauge whether declared superdelegate commitments are incorporated into the reported delegate margin on given days throughout the nominating process. If the media factored superdelegate commitments into its reports significantly more in 1984 than 2008, then this serves as evidence that it granted superdelegates less legitimacy in the latter season. Broadly, it shows that media frames affected the ability of superdelegates to influence the process in the manner for which they were intended by the Democratic Party.
Studies on the thermal breakdown of common Li-ion battery electrolyte components

While much attention is paid to the impact of the active materials on the catastrophic failure of lithium ion batteries, much of the severity of a battery failure is also governed by the electrolytes used, which are typically flammable themselves and can decompose during battery failure. The use of LiPF6 salt can be problematic as well, not only catalyzing electrolyte decomposition, but also providing a mechanism for HF production. This work evaluates the safety performance of the common components ethylene carbonate (EC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) in the context of the gasses produced during thermal decomposition, looking at both the quantity and composition of the vapor produced. EC and DEC were found to be the largest contributors to gas production, both producing upwards of 1.5 moles of gas/mole of electrolyte. DMC was found to be relatively stable, producing very little gas regardless of the presence of LiPF6. EMC was stable on its own, but the addition of LiPF6 catalyzed decomposition of the solvent. As a result, while gas analysis did not show evidence of significant quantities of any acutely toxic materials, the gasses themselves all contained enough flammable components to potentially ignite inmore » air.« less
Extraordinary Mechanism of the Diels–Alder Reaction: Investigation of Stereochemistry, Charge Transfer, Charge Polarization, and Biradicaloid Formation

The Diels-Alder reaction between 1,3-butadiene and ethene is investigated from far-out in the entrance channel to the very last step in the exit channel thus passing two bifurcation points and extending the range of the reaction valley studied with URVA (Unified Reaction Valley Approach) by 300% compared to previous studies. For the first time, the pre- and postchemical steps of the reaction are analyzed at the same level of theory as the actual chemical processes utilizing the path curvature and its decomposition into internal coordinate or curvilinear coordinate components. A first smaller charge transfer to the dienophile facilitates the rotation of gauche butadiene into its cis form. The actual chemical processes are initiated by a second larger charge transfer to the dienophile that facilitates pyramidalization of the reacting carbon centers, bond equalization, and biradicaloid formation of the reactants. The transition state is aromatically stabilized and moved by five path units into the entrance channel in line with the Hammond-Leffler postulate. The pseudorotation of the boat form into the halfchair of cyclohexene is analyzed. Predictions are made for the Diels-Alder reaction based on a 11-phase mechanism obtained by the URVA analysis.
Synthesis of an adj-dicarbaporphyrin and the formation of an unprecedented tripalladium sandwich complex.

An adj-dicarbaporphyrin was prepared by carrying out a base-catalyzed MacDonald reaction between bis(3-indenyl)methane and a dipyrrylmethane dialdehyde. The porphyrinoid system exhibited highly diatropic characteristics, and the proton NMR spectrum gave resonances at −5.74 and −6.24 ppm for the internal NH and CH protons, respectively. The UV–vis spectrum was also porphyrin-like, giving a Soret band at 455 nm and a series of Q bands at longer wavelengths. Addition of trifluoroacetic acid gave a C-protonated monocation, and at higher acid concentrations a dicationic species was observed. Addition of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) afforded a monodeprotonated porphyrinoid anion. All of these species retained highly diatropic characteristics. Density functional theory calculations showed that a nonplanar tautomer with four internal hydrogens was favored, in agreement with the spectroscopic data. Nucleus-independent chemical shift calculations also confirmed the aromatic characteristics of the free-b...
Space Warping Order Parameters and Symmetry: Application to Multiscale Simulation of Macromolecular Assemblies

Coarse-grained features of macromolecular assemblies are understood via a set of order parameters (OPs) constructed in terms of their all-atom configuration. OPs are shown to be slowly changing in time and capture the large-scale spatial features of macromolecular assemblies. The relationship of these variables to the classic notion of OPs based on symmetry breaking phase transitions is discussed. OPs based on space warping transformations are analyzed in detail as they naturally provide a connection between overall structure of an assembly and all-atom configuration. These OPs serve as the basis of a multiscale analysis that yields Langevin equations for OP dynamics. In this context, the characteristics of OPs and PCA modes are compared. The OPs enable efficient all-atom multiscale simulations of the dynamics of macromolecular assemblies in response to changes in microenvironmental conditions, as demonstrated on the structural transitions of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus capsid (CCMV) and RNA of the sate...
The biosynthesis of n-[2H7] fatty acids byArthrobacter globiformis from [U-2H15] octanoic acid

The principal fatty acids present whenArthrobacter globiformis is grown on a glycine medium free of normal fatty acids were found to be the C15 and C16 anteiso fatty acids; only a small amount of the normal fatty acids (C14 and C16) were present. Cells grown on the same medium but supplemented mented with 0.1 mg/ml [U-2H15]octanoic acid were found to contain an increased amount of the normal fatty acids and these fatty acids were found to be labeled with 7 deuteriums. I concluded that the octanoic acid is degraded by β-oxidation in these cells to [U-2H7] butyryl-CoA, which then competes with 2-methylbutyryl-CoA for the initiation of fatty acid biosynthesis.
Intrinsic defects and conduction characteristics of Sc 2 O 3 in thermionic cathode systems

Recent experimental observations indicate that bulk Sc${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ (\ensuremath{\sim}200 nm thick), an insulator at room temperature and pressure, must act as a good electronic conductor during thermionic cathode operation, leading to the observed high emitted current densities and overall superior emission properties over conventional thermionic emitters which do not contain Sc${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$. Here, we employ ab initio methods using both semilocal and hybrid functionals to calculate the intrinsic defect energetics of Sc and O vacancies and interstitials and their effects on the electronic properties of Sc${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ in an effort to explain the good conduction of Sc${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ observed in experiment. The defect energetics were used in an equilibrium defect model to calculate the concentrations of defects and their compensating electron and hole concentrations at equilibrium. Overall, our results indicate that the conductivity of Sc${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ solely due to the presence of intrinsic defects in the cathode operating environment is unlikely to be high enough to maintain the magnitude of emitted current densities obtained from experiment, and that the presence of impurities is necessary to raise the conductivity of Sc${}_{2}$O${}_{3}$ to a high enough value to explain the current densities observed in experiment. The necessary minimum impurity concentration to impart sufficient electronic conduction is very small (approximately 7.5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} 10${}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ ppm) and is probably present in all experiments.
Treatment of advanced seminoma with pre-radiation chemotherapy.

AbstractSeminoma is one of the most radiosensitive of solid tumors. However, the survival rate of patients with clinically advanced stages B3 and C disease is poor. Because of this dismal prognosis we instituted a protocol of pre-radiation chemotherapy in an attempt to improve the survival rates. A chemotherapeutic regimen, consisting of 2 to 3 courses of vincristine, actinomycin D and cyclophosphamide, was administered before radiotherapy. Of 16 patients studied 15 (93.7 per cent) had a complete response to the combined treatment regimen. We believe that pre-radiation chemotherapy is indicated in all patients with advanced seminoma.
Cultural primatology comes of age

The chimpanzee keeps inching closer to humanity. After decades of patiently gathering information, the heads of seven field-sites pool their knowledge to report an astonishing variation in tool technology and social customs in chimpanzees across Africa.
Higher-mode ambient-noise Rayleigh waves in sedimentary basins

We show that higher modes are an important component of high-frequency Rayleigh waves in the cross-correlations over sedimentary basins. The particle motions provide a good test for distinguishing and separating the fundamental from the first higher mode, with the fundamental mode having retrograde and the first higher mode having prograde motion in the 1–10 s period of interest. The basement depth controls the cut-off period of the first higher mode, which coincides with a rapid increase (over period) in the particle-motion ellipticity or H/V ratio of the fundamental mode. The strong higher mode we observed is not only due to the low-velocity sedimentary layer but also due to the noise sources with significant radial component such as the basin edge scattering. It is important to correctly identify the mode order when inverting the dispersion curves because misidentifying the higher mode as fundamental will lead to an anomalous high V_(SV) velocity.
Chapter 56 – Pulmonary Vasodilators in COPD

Publisher Summary While pulmonary hypertension remains a serious complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), effective therapy has been elusive. It is likely that pharmacological agents that exert both vasodilator and antiproliferative effects are most likely to produce sustained improvement in cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, although the impact of this therapy on symptoms and the survival in COPD remain unknown. Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of severe COPD and contributes substantively to both its morbidity and mortality. Current experience does not support the widespread use of PAH therapy in COPD-related PH, owing to the hazards described above and the dearth of studies demonstrating sustained clinical benefit. Nevertheless, there are selected patients who appear to have alterations in pulmonary hemodynamics which are well out of proportion to the severity of chronic respiratory disease and in whom conventional approaches to therapy are only partially successful. These patients might be considered as having true PAH, idiopathic or associated, and might be candidates for PAH therapy. Theoretically, the use of pulmonary vasodilators in the setting of acute cor pulmonale may be more appealing than their use in the chronic state, owing to the acute and, therefore potentially reversible component and the impact of this alteration on morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, no clinical trials have addressed the role of vasodilators in this population; furthermore, the deleterious effects of vasodilators may be particularly problematic in this setting. The use of more selective agents, such as nitric oxide by inhalation, would be preferred in the acutely decompensated patient. The impact of this therapy, however, remains unproven. Delivery of these agents in a manner that facilitates selectivity of their effects to the pulmonary vasculature, such as by the inhaled route, would be preferable in order to minimize the adverse effects of systemic vasodilation.
Resolving hot spot microstructure using x-ray penumbral imaging (invited)

We have developed and fielded x-ray penumbral imaging on the National Ignition Facility in order to enable sub-10 μm resolution imaging of stagnated plasma cores (hot spots) of spherically shock compressed spheres and shell implosion targets. By utilizing circular tungsten and tantalum apertures with diameters ranging from 20 μm to 2 mm, in combination with image plate and gated x-ray detectors as well as imaging magnifications ranging from 4 to 64, we have demonstrated high-resolution imaging of hot spot plasmas at x-ray energies above 5 keV. Here we give an overview of the experimental design criteria involved and demonstrate the most relevant influences on the reconstruction of x-ray penumbral images, as well as mitigation strategies of image degrading effects like over-exposed pixels, artifacts, and photon limited source emission. We describe experimental results showing the advantages of x-ray penumbral imaging over conventional Fraunhofer and photon limited pinhole imaging and showcase how internal hot spot microstructures can be resolved.
Bridge Maintenance Automation

The investment maintenance of valuable buildings is nowadays performed continuously and by means of automated technologies and softwarized construction business systems organizations. For the purpose of the sustainability of traffic and buildings, the automation of technologies requires a matching automation of works- performing systems logistics within business operations as a whole. However, besides the information flow softwarizing, there are as well technological and organizational novelties aimed at the rationalization of the activities. Namely, the technological novelties are new machines-robots-and the organizational ones are the new formulae-the equations of procedures. Thus the vector methods provide for the fulfillment of investment supported by the scientific procedures that are in turn to contribute to the upgrading of indices to show the economic quality of not only a particular company but of state institutions as well. In other words, the aforementioned automation processes provide the possibilities for further scientific research and the development of society.
Image fusion of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry and Energy-dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy data for the characterization of uranium-molybdenum fuel foils

Abstract Uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo) monolithic fuels represent one option for converting civilian research and test reactors operating with high enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU), effectively reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation world-wide. However, processes associated with fabrication of U-Mo monolithic fuels result in regions of elemental heterogeneity, observed as bands traversing the cross-section of representative samples. Isotopic variations (e.g., 235U and 238U) could also be introduced because of associated processing steps, particularly since HEU feedstock is melted with natural or depleted uranium diluent to produce LEU. This study demonstrates the utility of correlative analysis of Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) with their image data streams using image fusion, resulting in a comprehensive microanalytical characterization toolbox. Elemental and isotopic measurements were made on a sample from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) Full-sized plate In-center flux trap Position (AFIP)-7 experiment and compared to previous optical and electron microscopy results. The image fusion results are characteristic of SIMS isotopic maps, but with the spatial resolution of EDS images and, therefore, can be used to increase the effective spatial resolution of the SIMS imaging results to better understand homogeneity or heterogeneity that persists because of processing selections. Visual inspection using the image fusion methodology indicated slight variations in the 235U/238U ratio and quantitative analysis using the image intensities across several FoVs revealed an average 235U atom percent value of 17.9 ± 2.4%, which was indicative of a non-uniform U isotopic distribution in the area sampled. Further development of this capability is useful for understanding the connections between the properties of LEU fuel alternatives and the ability to predict performance under irradiation.
Analysis and Design of a Millimeter-Wave Cavity-Backed Circularly Polarized Radiator Based on Fundamental Theory of Multi-Port Oscillators

This paper presents the design and implementation of a millimeter-wave fundamental frequency circularly polarized radiator, which employs a multi-port cavity as the core of a high- $Q$ resonator, a power combiner, and an antenna. A general theory of multi-port oscillators—and in particular, the widely used circularly symmetric oscillator topologies—is presented, which quantitatively investigates and predicts all possible oscillation states, their associated modes of operation, and the oscillation stability. The outcomes of this theory are utilized to design a power-optimized eight-port rotationally symmetric radiator, excited at the oscillation state with a 45 phase difference between the adjacent ports, which, in turn, enables a high-efficiency circularly polarized radiation. Fabricated in 0.13- $\mu \text{m}$ BiCMOS process, this cavity-backed circularly polarized radiator operates at the frequency of 114 GHz and achieves 14.2-dBm equivalent-isotropic-radiated power (EIRP), 5.2% dc-to-EIRP conversion efficiency, 8.2 dBm radiated power, 1.3% dc-to-radiation efficiency, and −99.3 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1-MHz offset, without using silicon lens.
Independent-Trajectory Thermodynamic Integration: A Practical Guide to Protein-Drug Binding Free Energy Calculations Using Distributed Computing

The Independent-Trajectory Thermodynamic Integration (IT-TI) approach for free energy calculation with distributed computing is described. IT-TI utilizes diverse conformational sampling obtained from multiple, independent simulations to obtain more reliable free energy estimates compared to single TI predictions. The latter may significantly under- or over-estimate the binding free energy due to finite sampling. We exemplify the advantages of the IT-TI approach using two distinct cases of protein-ligand binding. In both cases, IT-TI yields distributions of absolute binding free energy estimates that are remarkably centered on the target experimental values. Alternative protocols for the practical and general application of IT-TI calculations are investigated. We highlight a protocol that maximizes predictive power and computational efficiency.
Notaries and Legal Professionals

Lawyers, notaries, and other legal professionals play a vital role in many aspects of housing and home. These professionals are central to the transactions that undergird the housing market. Legal professionals likewise help clients navigate the myriad of legal questions that arise during the lifecycle of a home, including relations with family members, neighbours, and the community. These roles raise questions about transactional efficiency as well as whether unequal access to the legal profession creates structural disadvantages for vulnerable participants in housing markets. This article describes the varied work of legal professionals in housing and home, and outlines the normative debates that this involvement has generated.
Association between metastatic free interval and recurrent metastatic breast cancer survival: Findings from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database.

e13069Background: The prevalence of patients living with prolonged interval between initial breast cancer diagnosis and development of subsequent metastatic disease may be increasing with improved ...
Classifying and predicting risky driving among novice drivers: A group-based trajectory approach.

Abstract Introduction: Classifying risky driving among new teenage drivers is important for efficiently targeting driving interventions. We thoroughly investigated whether novice drivers can be clustered by their driving outcome profiles over time. Methods : A sample of 51 newly licensed teen drivers was recruited and followed over a period of 20 weeks. An in-vehicle video recording system was used to gather data on dangerous driving events referred to as DDEs (elevated g-force, near-crash, and crash events), risky driving behaviors referred to as RDBs (e.g., running stop signs, cell phone use while driving), and miles traveled. The DDE and RDB weekly rates rate were determined by dividing the number of DDEs and RDBs in a week by the number of miles traveled in that week, respectively. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to map the clustering of DDE rate and RDB rate patterns over time and their associated covariates. Results: Two distinct DDE rate patterns were found. The first group (69.1% of the study population) had a lower DDE rate which was consistent over time. The second had a higher DDE rate pattern (30.9%) and characterized by a rising trend in DDE rate followed by a steady decrease (inverted U-shaped pattern). Two RDB rate patterns were also identified: a lower RDB rate pattern (83.4% of the study population) and a higher RDB rate pattern (16.6%). RDB and DDE rate patterns were positively related, and therefore, co-occurred. The results also showed that males were more likely than females to be in the higher DDE and RDB rate patterns. Conclusion: The groups identified by trajectory models may be useful for targeting driving interventions to teens that would mostly benefit as the different trajectories may represent different crash risk levels. Practical applications: Parents using feedback devices to monitor the driving performance of their teens can use the initial weeks of independent driving to classify their teens as low or high-risk drivers. Teens making a very few DDEs during their early weeks of independent driving are likely to remain in the lower risk group over time and can be spared from monitoring and interventions. However, teens making many DDEs during their initial weeks of unsupervised driving are likely to continue to make even more DDEs and would require careful monitoring and targeted interventions.
Pipeline right‐of‐way construction activities impact on deep soil compaction

A 762‐mm‐diameter pipe 1,886 km long was installed to transfer crude oil in the USA from North Dakota to Illinois. To investigate the impact of construction and restoration practices on long‐term soil productivity and crop yield, vertical soil stresses induced by a Caterpillar (CAT) pipe liner PL 87 (475 kN vehicle load) and semi‐trailer truck (8.9 kN axle load) were studied in a farm field. Soil properties (bulk density and cone penetration resistance) were measured on field zones within the right‐of‐way (ROW) classified according to construction machine trafficking and subsoil tillage (300‐mm‐depth tillage and 450‐mm‐depth tillage in two repeated passes) treatments. At 200 mm depth from the subsoiled surface, the magnitude of peak vertical soil stress from trafficking by the semi‐truck trailer and CAT pipe liner PL 87 was 133 kPa. The peak vertical soil stress at 400 mm soil depth appeared to be influenced by vehicle weight, where the Caterpillar pipe liner PL 87 created soil compaction a magnitude of 1.5 greater than from the semi‐trailer truck. Results from the soil bulk density and soil cone penetration resistance measurements also showed the ROW zones had significantly higher soil compaction than adjacent unaffected corn planted fields. Tillage to 450 mm depth alleviated the deep soil compaction better than the 300‐mm‐depth tillage as measured by soil cone penetration resistance within the ROW zones and the unaffected zone. These results could be incorporated into agricultural mitigation plans in ROW construction utilities to minimize soil and crop damage.
Unmet Medical Needs in the Treatment of Depression and the Clinical Development of a Differentiated Antidepressant: A Translational Line of Evidence

Abstract Cognitive dysfunction represents a primary unmet medical need in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Recently, a new antidepressant drug, vortioxetine, was introduced in the clinic that shows a differentiated mechanism of action compared with established antidepressants and exhibits efficacy in the treatment of cognitive impairment associated with MDD. This chapter presents the line of evidence based on translational drug discovery and development approaches in support of vortioxetine's distinct effect on cognitive function in MDD.
Exciton Spatial Coherence and Optical Gain in Colloidal Two-Dimensional Cadmium Chalcogenide Nanoplatelets

ConspectusTwo-dimensional (2D) cadmium chalcogenide (CdX, X = Se, S, Te) colloidal nanoplatelets (NPLs) make up an emerging class of quantum well materials that exhibit many unique properties inclu...
Large-Signal Stability Analysis of Pulsed Constant Power Loads via Sum-of-Squares Optimization

Future sensors and weapons rapidly vary their power consumption presenting new challenges to ensuring stable operation of naval power systems. Through a series of examples, it is shown that standard small-signal impedance methods are a poor surrogate for understanding these pulsed systems and there is a need for large-signal stability analysis tools. Sum-of-squares optimization is proposed as a means of analyzing the nonlinear dynamics of these systems by providing estimates of the region of attraction, a key metric in large-signal stability. It is compared to polytopic methods and seen to provide more accurate results.
Gaussian Processes with Errors in Variables: Theory and Computation

Covariate measurement error in nonparametric regression is a common problem in nutritional epidemiology and geostatistics, and other fields. Over the last two decades, this problem has received substantial attention in the frequentist literature. Bayesian approaches for handling measurement error have only been explored recently and are surprisingly successful, although the lack of a proper theoretical justification regarding the asymptotic performance of the estimators. By specifying a Gaussian process prior on the regression function and a Dirichlet process Gaussian mixture prior on the unknown distribution of the unobserved covariates, we show that the posterior distribution of the regression function and the unknown covariates density attain optimal rates of contraction adaptively over a range of Holder classes, up to logarithmic terms. This improves upon the existing classical frequentist results which require knowledge of the smoothness of the underlying function to deliver optimal risk bounds. We also develop a novel surrogate prior for approximating the Gaussian process prior that leads to efficient computation and preserves the covariance structure, thereby facilitating easy prior elicitation. We demonstrate the empirical performance of our approach and compare it with competitors in a wide range of simulation experiments and a real data example.
Intraoperative Use of Functional MRI for Surgical Decision Making after Limited or Infeasible Electrocortical Stimulation Mapping.

Background and purpose Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is becoming widely recognized as a key component of preoperative neurosurgical planning, although intraoperative electrocortical stimulation (ECS) is considered the gold standard surgical brain mapping method. However, acquiring and interpreting ECS results can sometimes be challenging. This retrospective study assesses whether intraoperative availability of fMRI impacted surgical decision-making when ECS was problematic or unobtainable. Methods Records were reviewed for 191 patients who underwent presurgical fMRI with fMRI loaded into the neuronavigation system. Four patients were excluded as a bur-hole biopsy was performed. Imaging was acquired at 3 Tesla and analyzed using the general linear model with significantly activated pixels determined via individually determined thresholds. fMRI maps were displayed intraoperatively via commercial neuronavigation systems. Results Seventy-one cases were planned ECS; however, 18 (25.35%) of these procedures were either not attempted or aborted/limited due to: seizure (10), patient difficulty cooperating with the ECS mapping (4), scarring/limited dural opening (3), or dural bleeding (1). In all aborted/limited ECS cases, the surgeon continued surgery using fMRI to guide surgical decision-making. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative deficits between cases with completed ECS and those with limited/aborted ECS. Conclusions Preoperative fMRI allowed for continuation of surgery in over one-fourth of patients in which planned ECS was incomplete or impossible, without a significantly different incidence of postoperative deficits compared to the patients with completed ECS. This demonstrates additional value of fMRI beyond presurgical planning, as fMRI data served as a backup method to ECS.
Gaming alone: Videogaming and sociopolitical attitudes:

What sustains prosocial attitudes and political engagement in the era of online connectivity? Scholars disagree on whether frequent consumers of virtual entertainment disconnect from sociopolitical...
Repurposing developmental mechanisms in the adult nervous system

Molecules and cellular processes important for nervous system development can be repurposed in adulthood for the regulation of adult neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neural regeneration following injury or degeneration. Efforts to recapitulate neural development in order to ameliorate injury or disease are promising, but these often fall short of functional restoration due in part to our incomplete understanding of how these damaged circuits initially developed. Despite these limitations, such strategies provide hope that harnessing developmental mechanisms can restore nervous system functions following damage or disease.
Robotic Control of Tick Populations

Tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly common in the United States, including Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis. Their increase in infection rates closely tracks a rise in the geographic area of infected ticks, prompting interest in new methods of tick population control. The most common existing method involves spraying the environment with permethrin, which, although highly effective, also poisons fish, fowl, bees, and other wildlife. This paper describes a novel robotic method designed to reduce tick populations without the associated environmental toxicity of chemical spraying. It employs a robot that follows a wire emitting a magnetic signal beacon around the perimeter of a property while dispensing a chemoattractant. The magnetic signal is generated by a small battery-run constant-current frequency generator. The robot's steering is controlled by proportional-integral controllers that compare the magnetic signal detected by left and right side resonant inductors mounted on the robot, and its forward speed is controlled by a second proportional integral controller calibrated to move the robot at the speed of a slow walk. A chemoattractant, such as CO2, is released by the robot, which, with the vibration associated with the robot's movement, establishes the biomimicry necessary to cause the tick to latch onto the robot's fabric-covered drag mat and wings. The fabric is infused with permethrin, killing the ticks in seconds while leaving virtually no trace of the chemical in the environment. An early prototype of the robot showed it acutely reduced tick populations by 88% ± 10% after 5 passes, but 48 hours after treatment the population returned to approximately pre-treatment levels. This was hypothesized to occur because only a percentage of ticks emerge from stasis on any given day to feed, but the early prototype robot proved unreliable and difficult to use for repeated-day operation needed to test this theory. The robot described in this paper incorporates a number of changes to allow multi-day testing including improved steering algorithms, water-resistant electronics, a manual mode to allow the user to remotely pilot the vehicle back on track should it lose tracking in a tight turn, and multiple indicators to assist debugging in the field. This will enable time-longitudinal studies of the robot's effects on tick population reduction planned by researchers in the summer of 2020 and may ultimately lead to a new method for tick population control.
A lavatory urine color (LUC) chart method can identify hypohydration in a physically active population

To provide a new and efficient at-the-toilet-bowl method of self-assessing urine concentration via urine color (Uc) to identify hypohydration. A large athletic population (n = 189) delivered a urine sample, then chose a color panel that was displayed on the back wall of the lavatory stall. Selection was based on duration of urine voiding time, so that for a short-duration, the lighter panel was selected; for a mid-duration, the mid color panel; and for a longer-void-duration, the darker panel was selected. Then, subjects noted if their urine was lighter than, similar to, or darker than the selected color panel. Trained investigators also rated subjects’ urine samples. To assess validity of Uc classification, the outcome was compared with a urine concentration (urine specific gravity, USG, and urine osmolality) threshold indicating hypohydration. Urine color was scored similarly by subjects and investigators (P = 0.99). Based on receiver operating curves (ROC), the method scored fair, i.e., the area under the curve ranging 0.73–0.82, with an accuracy of participants and investigators correctly classifying 72% and 75% urine samples compared to a USG threshold of 1.020, respectively, and 62% and 70% compared to a urine osmolality threshold of 836 mmol·kg−1, respectively. This new lavatory urine color (LUC) method of scoring Uc levels to assess potential hypohydration gives results similar to those of traditional urine color charts, but it has the advantage of an immediate assessment of hydration status based on scoring urine color directly from the toilet bowl.
Information Frictions in New Venture Finance: Evidence from Product Hunt Rankings

Computing innovations and regulatory changes led to increasing entrepreneurial entry and financing since 2013, particularly in the digital sector. Product Hunt, a crowd-based online platform, emerged to serve an information provision role, generating signals of potential product demand for new ventures by aggregating user upvotes into daily frontpage rankings. Using unexpected variation in the quantity and quality of postings shortly after the focal product is launched, I show that placing one rank higher on the frontpage improves a startup’s fundraising probability by 3.4% within a year. Frontpage rankings affect venture funding outcomes despite being highly noisy signals, highlighting the extent of information frictions between early-stage entrepreneurial firms and venture capital investors.
Subacute Thyroiditis After mRNA Vaccine for Covid-19

Introduction: Subacute thyroiditis is a well-documented clinical condition which typically presents 1-2 weeks after an acute viral illness. Presenting symptoms are classically those of thyrotoxicosis but with associated tenderness in the thyroid. Treatment of acute symptoms is possible and the thyroid function will generally normalize with time. Subacute thyroiditis has rarely been reported after administration of viral vaccinations such as the seasonal flu vaccine. We present a case of subacute thyroiditis which presented after administration of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Case: Patient is a 42yo female with no past medical history. She received the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 on 12/22/20. Five days later, the patient complained of sore throat and palpitations. These symptoms progressed and she was evaluated in an urgent care on 12/31/20 where she was found to have tachycardia. Infectious work-up, including PCR for COVID-19, was negative and she was sent home. She took ibuprofen with some improvement of her symptoms. The following day she went to the ED; she was found to have a heart rate in the 130s with sinus tachycardia on EKG. Thyroid function testing was done which revealed TSH <0.01, fT4 4.58, fT3 11.8. Her TPO antibody was <28 and inflammatory markers were elevated including sed rate of 62. The patient was prescribed prednisone 40mg daily and propranolol 20mg as needed for symptoms. She reports rapid improvement of symptoms with prednisone. On 1/21/20, thyroid function showed TSH <0.01, fT4 down to 3.2, tT3 normal at 135. Thyroglobulin was elevated at 140.8 with negative thyroglobulin antibody, TRAb and TSI. Her inflammatory markers had decreased with sed rate of 26 and normal C-reactive protein. She had improved symptoms. Discussion: Cases of subacute thyroiditis are most commonly associated with upper respiratory viruses but cases have been reported with traditional inactivated viral vaccines or live-attenuated vaccines such as those for annual influenza. We present the case of a 42-year-old female who has presented with a classic case of subacute thyroiditis which occurred in the time frame after receiving the Pfizer mRNA vaccine for COVID-19. Research has been ongoing for decades regarding development of mRNA vaccines but the mRNA vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been the first to be widely distributed to the general population. Thyroiditis has not been reported as a common side effect but the cross recognition between the coronavirus spike protein targeted with the mRNA vaccine and healthy thyroid cell antigens exists as evidenced by this case. Sources: 1. Prummel M, Strieder T, Wiersinga WM. The environment and autoimmune thyroid diseases. Eur J Endocrinol. 2004;150:605-618. Altay FA, Guz G, Altay M. 2. Subacute thyroiditis following seasonal influenza vaccination. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2016;12(4):1033-1034.
A Calculation Method for Levied Peak Electricity Price Dealing with Virtual Power Plant Peak Shaving Subsidy

The power grid is currently challenged by the ever increasing peak load and widening peak-to-valley difference, and the pressure to maintain the balance of power supply and demand is increasing. As a new generation of intelligent load aggregation and control technology, virtual power plant (VPP) can effectively guide users to participate in load demand response, thus promote the optimization of power grid and alleviate its operation burden. However, the success of VPP depends on the active participation of users, which is indispensable from sufficient subsidy funds. At present, an effective way to obtain VPP subsidy is to levy peak electricity price of large industrial loads. For existing levied peak electricity price method, the incremental value of peak electricity price is normally determined by artificial experience, while the actual load characteristics and VPP operation conditions have not been comprehensively considered. Therefore, it is unable to scientifically evaluate the peak electricity price increase required for the implementation of VPP. In this work, a method for assessing the levied peak electricity price to deal with VPP peak shaving subsidy is proposed. It comprehensively considers the actual power grid load, the VPP application demand as well as the condition of large industrial load. A simulation case presents the application of this method. In addition, the method is convenient to be deployed, thus provide an effective means for VPP levied price evaluations.
The Growing Socioeconomic Gap in Lifetime Social Security Retirement Benefits: Current and Future Retirees

Objectives Increasing socioeconomic disparities, including in life expectancy, have important implications for the US Social Security program. This study examined inter- and intra-cohort trends in Social Security retirement benefits, paying special attention to how lifetime benefit trajectories by socioeconomic circumstance shift across cohorts encompassing current and future retirees. Method Using a dynamic microsimulation model based on representative survey data linked to administrative records, we developed a set of cohort-specific projections that estimate monthly and lifetime Social Security retirement benefits for retirees spanning the Early Baby Boom (1945-1954) to Generation X (1965-1974) cohorts. Results We found a widening socioeconomic gap in projected monthly and lifetime benefits for men and women, especially on a lifetime basis. This divergence is associated with stagnation of benefit levels among lower SES groups coupled with upward shifts among higher strata groups. Distributional changes are linked with increasing differential mortality, but other factors also likely play a role such as rising education premiums, growing earnings inequality, and changes in women's work and relationship histories. Discussion Widening mortality differentials can lead to distributional changes in the US Social Security program. Microsimulation methodology lends insights into how the socioeconomic gap in monthly and lifetime benefit distributions may change among future older Americans in the context of differential mortality and other demographic changes. Moving forward in time, these complex patterns could offset some of the progressivity built into the system.
Competing for supply and demand: Understanding retailers' ordering decisions

Abstract Supply chains require the interaction between retailers and suppliers in a dynamic environment. One frequent and costly source of inefficiencies produced by these interactions is known as the bullwhip effect. The bullwhip effect takes place when the variability of orders increases as one moves up the supply chain. However, the impact of this variability is influenced by retailers who compete both for supply and demand. This study systematically explores the impact of the bullwhip effect when there is horizontal competition among retailers. We develop a mathematical model in a competitive system and create two behavioral studies to evaluate the effect of supplier's responsiveness, customers' overreaction, and capacity allocation on retailers' decisions. We show evidence of participants' limited ability to reduce the bullwhip effect. Our results show that competition for supply has a strong effect on the participants' ordering decisions, while the competition for demand does not impact the way how retailers inflate their orders. Furthermore, we show that by adjusting the supplier's allocation mechanism, order variability decreases in up to 50%. Our econometric model shows that (i) more complex systems increase the bullwhip effect but decrease retailers' biases, and (ii) retailers underreact to shipments received from the supplier and ignore customers' order cancellations. We provide recommendations to decrease the impact of the bullwhip effect on supply chains.
The Role of Shock-Induced Nonregenerative Depolarizations in Ventricular Fibrillation and Defibrillation: The Graded Response Hypothesis

The link between death and cardiac arrest was perhaps first recorded in the epic of Gilgamesh, the “oldest” written story on Earth (circa 2700 BC). “I touched his heart, but it beat no longer,” lamented Gilgamesh, the Babylonian hero-king in the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh, as he witnessed the death of his best friend, Enkidu. Perhaps the earliest pictorial and informative description of the sudden cardiac death was discovered on the relief sculpture of the tomb of an Egyptian nobleman in the sixth dynasty (2625– 2475 BC) at Sakkara. The scene, titled “Sudden Death” by the German egyptologist von Bissing, is described by a sequence of pictorial events that lead to the sudden collapse of the Egyptian nobleman (Fig. 1). The later discovery of Egyptian writings on papyri (circa 1534 BC) directly linked heart beat irregularities to death: “If the heart trembles, has little power and sinks, the disease is advancing . . . and death is near.” Heartbeat irregularities as a marker of disease were also recognized and described in ancient China as can be deduced from a conversation between the “Golden Emperor” Huang Ti and his physician Ch’i Pai (circa 2600 BC) “When the pulse beats are long the constitution of the pulse is well regulated. . . .When the pulse is quick, and contain six beats to 1 cycle of respiration, it indicates heart trouble . . . and the disease becomes grave.”
Pressurised fluid extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their polar oxidation products from atmospheric particles

An effective method utilising pressurised fluid extraction (PFE) to simultaneously extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their polar oxidation products from atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is presented. The PFE method is advantageous over the traditional Soxhlet extraction due to its lower solvent consumption (9 mL compared to 90 mL) and shorter extraction time (15 min versus 18 h). Seventy compounds including PAHs and polar PAH oxidation products containing carbonyl (oxy-PAHs), hydroxyl (hydroxy-PAHs), and carboxylic acid (carboxy-PAHs) groups were targeted in the extraction of two different PM matrices: wood smoke (WS) and diesel exhaust (DE) PM. The PFE method was optimised and then compared to Soxhlet extraction for both PM matrices. The overall amounts of PAHs and their derivatives extracted from WS PM were slightly higher for the optimised PFE method (1849 ± 21 and 1863 ± 25 µg g−1 with dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH), respectively) than those obtained with Soxhlet extrac...