Consensus on the reporting and experimental design of clinical and cognitive-behavioural neurofeedback studies (CRED-nf checklist)

Neurofeedback has begun to attract the attention and scrutiny of the scientific and medical mainstream. Here, neurofeedback researchers present a consensus-derived checklist that aims to improve the reporting and experimental design standards in the field.</p

Delivering the Lotus-Born: Historiography in the Tibetan Renaissance

Traditionally recognized as the first of the great Buddhist treasure revealers, Nyang-rel Nyima Özer (1124-1192) historiographically reconstructed the Imperium into a golden age of Tibetan Buddhism. An analysis of his two early biographies demonstrates that he was among the first to recall an unbroken series of preincarnations in real historical time, which was a crucial link that led to the ascension of concatenated reincarnates like the Karmapas and Dalai Lamas. For Nyang-rel, his past life as emperor Tri Song-détsen (d. 800) provided the teleological karmic basis for his life as a finder of the old texts and relics deemed "treasure." According to his biographies and the two narratives that are attributed to him, Nyang-rel’s treasures were uniformly material objects extracted via quite mundane methods, though the discovery of old manuscripts seems to have been only an initial step in a process of compilation, redaction and composition that resulted in their reintroduction. Allegedly among these treasures was the first complete biography of the eighth-century Tantrika, Padmasambhava, which later became renowned as The Copper Palace. Much of this narrative was incorporated into the history of Buddhism entitled Flower Nectar: The Essence of Honey that is also attributed to Nyang-rel. Based on a comparative analysis of available recensions, however, I propose three hypotheses as equally viable alternatives to what has been asserted concerning the composition of these two texts. First, Nyang-rel did not consider his biography of Padmasambhava to be a treasure, but the tradition later manufactured a recovery narrative and accompanying title that promoted it as such. Second, Nyang-rel did not compile the Flower Nectar history. Third, based on oral, textual and mnemonic fragments, Nyang-rel produced a narrative of Tri Song-détsen and Padmasambhava that others developed into The Copper Palace and Flower Nectar. In sum, Nyang-rel was a progenitor of some of the most definitive aspects of Tibetan Buddhism, yet these very innovations ensured that he would be eclipsed by later adepts who, in adopting his claims and methods, revealed new iterations of his scriptures and narratives. He thus remains one of the most influential yet unsung figures of the Tibetan renaissance

Li-O-2 cells with LiBr as an electrolyte and a redox mediator

After many years of successful and disappointing results, the field of Li-O-2 research seems to have reached an equilibrium state. The extensive knowledge that has accrued through advanced analytical studies enables us to delineate the weaknesses of the Li-O-2 battery. It is now clear that the instability of the cell components toward extreme conditions existing during cell operation leads to early cell failure as well. One serious challenge is the high oxidation potential applied during the charge process. Redox-mediators may reduce the over-potential and, therefore, improve the efficiency and cyclability of Li-O-2 cells. Their use in Li-O-2 cells is mandatory. We have previously shown that LiI can indeed behave in such a manner; however, it also promotes the formation of side products during cell operation. We have, therefore, embarked on a comprehensive study of lithium halide salts as electrolytes for use in Li-O-2 cells. We examine herein the effect of other components in the cell, such as solvents and contaminants, on the lithium halide salt activity. Based on the electrochemical behavior and the identity of the final cell products under various conditions, we can glean substantial information regarding the detailed operation mechanisms for each specific case. We have concluded that low concentration of LiBr in diglyme solution can improve the cell performance with fewer side effects than LiI. With LiBr, only the desired Li2O2 is formed during discharge. During charge, the bromine redox couple (Br-/Br-3(-)) can reduce the oxidation potential to only 3.5 V. Higher efficiency and better cyclability of cells containing LiBr demonstrate that the electrolyte solution is the key to a successful Li-O-2 battery