cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How (Not What) to Prescribe: Nonpharmacologic Aspects of Psychopharmacology

Despite advances in psychopharmacology over the past several decades, treatment outcomes for depression have not substantially improved. Depression is not being eradicated. If anything, the evidence suggests that the problem of depression and treatment-resistant depression is growing, not shrinking. As biologically reductionistic approaches dominate psychiatric practice, patient care has steered away from considering the potent effects of meaning and relationships in the psychopharmacologic treatment of our patients. By construing patients as passive recipients of concrete, specific, and straightforward medical interventions, the field has succumbed to a delusion of precision, and unwittingly moved into an era of treatment resistance in which some of our most potent tools are wasted. In such a model we have settled for treating a disorder rather than a whole person. This article is intended as a step toward remedy. Meaning effects, therapeutic alliance, ambivalence, and patient autonomy, among others, have a powerful and measurable impact on the use of medication that should be considered if we are to treat the whole person. Bringing these elements together into a coherent model of treatment, however, is only a starting point. More research is needed if we are to understand the effects these elements have when used together in an integrated model that is simultaneously personalized and evidence-based.
Depth perception in an anthropomorphic robot that replicates human eye movements

In the eyes of many species, the optical nodal points of the cornea and lens do not lie on the axes of rotation of the eye. During eye movements, this lack of alignment produces depth information in the form of an oculomotor parallax. That is, a redirection of gaze shifts the projection of an object on the retina by an amount that depends not only on the amplitude of the rotation of the eye, but also on the distance of the object with respect to the observer. Species as diverse as the chameleon and the sandlance critically rely on this depth cue to estimate distance. An oculomotor parallax is present also in the human eye and, during natural eye movements, it produces retinal shifts that are well within the range of sensitivity of the human visual system. We have developed an anthropomorphic robot equipped with a pan/tilt head specifically designed to reproduce the oculomotor parallax present in the human eye. We show that replication of sequences of human eye movements with this robot produces accurate estimation of distance. In robotic vision it is often debated whether the dynamic analysis of a visual scene by means of a mobile camera presents advantages with respect to the static analysis provided by a stationary camera with a wide field of view. This study shows that by generating depth information, replication of the dynamic strategy by which humans scan a visual scene greatly facilitates the processes of figure/ground segregation and image segmentation, two of the hardest tasks of machine vision
A performance model for a distributed flight control system subject to random upsets

A performance model is introduced for estimating the tracking error of a Boeing 737 closed-loop digital flight control system implemented on a distributed computing platform, inspired by NASApsilas ROBUS-2 communication system, when it is subjected to a harsh environment. A methodology is then developed for computing a mean-square error tracking performance metric as a function of the number of processing elements used, the number of redundancy management units employed, and the level of external disturbances the digital system experiences.
Evolution of Surface Roughness during Copper Electrodeposition in the Presence of Additives Comparison of Experiments and Monte Carlo Simulations

2with solutions of 0.5 M CuSO4 1 1M H 2SO4 with various combinations of 1.5 mM Cl 2 , 500 ppm polyethene glycol MW 3400, and either 2 mM or 2 mM 3-mercapto-1-propane sulfonic acid. Potential transients and surface roughness data were measured and compared with multiscale numerical simulations carried out with a noncontinuum Monte Carlo model of the surface linked to a continuum model of the diffusion layer. Hypotheses for electrodeposition of copper in additive-free solutions as well as those containing one, two, or three additive components were selected from the literature and encoded into a Monte Carlo model. The simulations included up to 32 parameters of which some were available from independent measurements and the remaining were selected to match experimental data. Simulations were carried out on the Condor highthroughput system. Comparison of numerical results with experimental data led to recognition of several areas for improvement. These included ~i! recognizing the need for high-throughput experimental methods for obtaining a sufficient quantity of data to establish statistically significant trends, (ii) improving numerical procedures to handle pseudoparticle sizes significantly smaller than the 100 nm used here, (iii) linking multiscale codes with external scripts to facilitate the use of different modules at one scale without affecting the operation of the module used at another scale, and ( iv) automating the process for obtaining values for the most sensitive parameters.
Effectiveness of Repair and Strengthening Methods for Reinforced Concrete Columns and Beam-Column Joints

Currently, there are only a few common methods that can be used to strengthen reinforced concrete columns. These methods, including steel jacketing, section enlargement by concrete jacketing, and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wraps, were are used to strengthen 15 column specimens. The ease of application, economy and efficiency of each method are discussed and compared. In this study, three exterior reinforced concrete beam-column joint specimens were tested under reverse cyclic loading. The damaged specimens were repaired by replacing the damaged concrete and then strengthened using FRP strips. The strength was restored and deformation capacities of the strengthened specimens were much larger than those of the original specimens.
Internal waveform probing of MMIC power amplifiers

A microwave waveform internal probing technique for MMICs under normal CW or pulsed operation is described. The application to HBT and HEMT power amplifiers are demonstrated. The present high-impedance probing approach is compared to optical probing techniques.
POLARIZATION, SECULARIZATION, OR DIFFERENCES AS USUAL? The Denominational Cleavage in U.S. Social Attitudes Since the 1970s

Scholarly debates over modernization and social change in the late twentieth century have raised far-reaching questions about the possible consequences for religious group conflict and differences ...
Is the Extrastriate Body Area (EBA) Sensitive to the Perception of Pain in Others

Recent neuroimaging findings suggest a role of the extrastriate body area (EBA) in self/other distinction and in the perception of pain and emotions in others. The present functional magnetic resonance imaging study investigated whether EBA is modulated by the perception of pain in others. Participants were scanned during 2 consecutive sessions: 1) a localizer task precisely identifying EBA in each individual and 2) event-related trials in which participants watched pictures of pain (needle injections into human hands) inflicted in others or control stimuli showing hands in no pain. The perception of pain recruited large parts of the so-called pain matrix, documenting shared neural representations between the perception of pain in self and other. Both the needle injections and the control stimuli consistently activated bilateral EBA, replicating involvement of this area in the perception of body parts. However, activation during the perception of painful stimuli was not different from signal changes during perception of the control stimuli. This suggests that EBA is not specifically involved in empathy for pain.
Considerations in biventricular repair after the Norwood procedure

Objective: The Norwood procedure can be applicable as a first stage palliation in children who can eventually undergo a biventricular repair. Although usual management of these patients is a primary neonatal repair, in selected patients staged approach with a Norwood procedure in the neonatal period followed by a Rastelli procedure in the infancy for conversion to two-ventricle physiology has been used alternatively. Methods: We report our experiences on two infants who underwent a previous palliation with the Norwood procedure for lesions other than hypoplastic left heart syndrome and converted to two-ventricle physiology by the use of a Rastelli-type procedure. This report examines considerations in biventricular repair after the Norwood procedure especially need for ventricular septal defect enlargement and approach to placement of the right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit. Results: Both of the infants who underwent staged approach with an initial Norwood procedure for lesions other than hypoplastic left heart syndrome survived the operations and were clinically well at mid-term follow-up. Conclusion: In selected patients, the staged approach is an alternative in management of malformations other than hypoplastic left heart syndrome which share the important physiologic features of aortic outlet obstruction and ductal dependency of systemic circulation. We recommend routine enlargement of ventricular septal defect and proper positioning of the conduit at the time of subsequent biventricular repair. q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Effects of reduced-fat modified wet distillers grains with solubles on the performance of limit-fed beef cows1

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate 3 inclusion rates for modified wet distillers grains with solubles containing 5.6 to 8.0% fat (WDGS) when limit-fed to beef cows during late gestation and early lactation. Angus × Simmental crossbred cows (n = 128) in the third trimester were blocked by parity (first parity and 2 or more parities) and stratified within parity by BW, subject to variation in BCS, to 16 pens. Four diets were fed until completion of a timed AI. Control cows were fed corn silage-, shelled corn-, and soybean meal-based diets to provide 12% CP [treatment (T) 1]. In the treatment diets, WDGS replaced shelled corn, soybean meal, and a portion of the corn silage to provide 12% (T2), 16% (T3), or 20% CP (T4). Analyzed CP values were 12.0, 12.5, 15.7, and 19.0%, for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Mean DMI per day was 7.80 ± 1.01, 7.96 ± 1.01, 8.55 ± 1.28, and 8.63 ± 1.11 kg for T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. No differences (P > 0.05) between treatments were observed for calving ease score, calf birth weight, calf BW, and cow BCS at the end of the feeding period. There was a linear (P = 0.03) increase in cow BW change in cattle fed increasing levels of WDGS and a quadratic response (P = 0.03) in milk production, with production increasing in T3 compared with T4 and T2 cattle. Cows fed increased levels of WDGS performed equally or superior to cows fed shelled corn- and soybean meal-based diets.
Mastocytosis: Perioperative Considerations

Mastocytosis, an uncommon clinical disorder, can present a variety of clinical manifestations ranging from an asymptomatic state to one characterized by recurrent episodes of severe vasodilatation. Even the patient whose disease appears to be well controlled and is asymptomatic preoperatively can develop serious intraoperative problems. Knowledge of the pathogenesis and treatment, avoidance of known provoking factors, and adherence to established precautionary measures, in particular the constant availability of IV epinephrine infusion throughout the perioperative period, enables members of the surgical team to safely support the patient throughout the operative experience.
Extravascular protein in the renal medulla: analysis by two methods

Two methods have been used to test for the presence of extravascular protein in the interstitium of the renal inner medulla. First, ascending vasa recta (AVR) segments were perfused with buffer containing 5 g/dl of albumin. The hydraulic pressure in the perfused vessel was varied to control transmembrane volume flux (Jv) to the interstitium. Interpolation to the point of zero Jv was employed to estimate interstitial Starling forces in the hydropenic rat papilla. Analysis of those experiments predicts that interstitial protein concentration (Ci) is high. When AVR segments are filled with oil, the oil column spontaneously breaks up as fluid is secreted into the lumen from the papillary interstitium. To obtain a lower limit on Ci, isolated AVR segments (IAS) filled with oil were sampled to measure protein concentration in the secreted fluid. In hydropenic rats, protein concentration was 3.4 +/- 0.5 and 5.2 +/- 0.2 g/dl in IAS and adjacent free-flowing AVR, respectively (P < 0.01). In rats subjected to furosemide and saline diuresis, the values were nearly identical, 4.7 +/- 0.2 and 5.2 +/- 0.2 g/dl, respectively. These separate experimental approaches corroborate a high concentration of protein in the renal inner medullary interstitium.
The Melt Refining of Irradiated Uranium: Application to EBR-II Fast Reactor Fuel. XII. The Behavior of Ruthenium, Molybdenum, Palladium, Rhodium, Technetium, Antimony, Cadmium, and Tellurium

Ruthenium, molybdenum, palladium, rhodium, technetium, and antimony are retained by the bulk metal when uranium containing macrolevels of accompanying fission elements is melt-refined in oxide crucibles at 1200 to 1400 ts C. Under similar conditions, cadmium and tellurium are nearly quantitatively removed, the latter element by a proposed mechanism involving the formation of a stable compound with cerium. (auth)
State Constitutional Law: The Right of Privacy and Same-Sex Marriage

This article traces the development, under state constitutions, of the right of privacy in regard to same-sex marriage. State constitutions are an important source of protection for individual rights and liberties, including the right of privacy. Indeed, state constitutions contain various provisions that can be used to protect the right of privacy. State constitutional conceptions of privacy independent of federal law began to emerge at a relatively early date. Taking the lead over federal courts, state court ruled that there was a fundamental right to privacy that encompassed the right to same-sex marriage. In 2003, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts became a pioneer by being the first judicial body in the nation to rule that the right of privacy secured by the state constitution encompassed a right to same-sex marriage.
The role of education in explaining racial/ethnic allostatic load differentials in the United States

This study expands on earlier findings of racial/ethnic and education-allostatic load associations by assessing whether racial/ethnic differences in allostatic load persist across all levels of educational attainment. This study used data from four recent waves of the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES). Results from this study suggest that allostatic load differs significantly by race/ethnicity and educational attainment overall, but that the race/ethnicity association is not consistent across education level. Analysis of interactions and education-stratified models suggest that allostatic load levels do not differ by race/ethnicity for individuals with low education; rather, the largest allostatic load differentials for Mexican Americans (p < .01) and non-Hispanic blacks (p < .001) are observed for individuals with a college degree or more. These findings add to the growing evidence that differences in socioeconomic opportunities by race/ethnicity are likely a consequence of differential returns to education, which contribute to higher stress burdens among minorities compared to non-Hispanic whites.
Cytochrome P-450 pathway in renal function of normal rats and rats with bilateral ureteral obstruction

AbstractGlomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) are decreased and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) are increased after unilateral release of bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) of 24 hr duration. An imbalance between vasoconstrictor and vasodilator substances may explain these hemodynamic changes. We examined the role of the cytochrome P-450 pathway in this setting. After unilateral release of BUO, GFR and ERPF (ml/min/kg body wt) were significantly lower in these rats than in sham-operated rats (SOR) 1.14 ± 0.09 vs 6.7 ± 0.5 and 3.09 ± 0.2 vs 23.5 ± 3.4, respectively). BUO rats had significantly higher MAP (mm Hg) and RVR (mm Hg/ml/min/kg body wt) than SOR (155 ± 5 vs 120 ± 1 and 29.1 ± 1.7 vs 3.2 ± 0.4, respectively). SOR given 3-methylcholanthrene and β-naphthoflavone to induce the cytochrome P-450 system had no significant changes in renal function, RVR, or MAP. SOR given ketoconazole to inhibit the cytochrome P-450 system had significan...
Mechanism of Action of the Herbicidal Compound LY181977

LY181977 (5-cyano-1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-N-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide) is active in pre- and post-emergent applications against annual grasses in corn and cereal grains (1,2). The symptoms caused by treatment with LY181977 include growth inhibition and chlorosis, followed by necrosis and death in 14–17 days (1), similar to the symptoms caused by atrazine and diuron (3). Both atrazine and diuron bind to the thylakoid protein, D1, at the herbicide binding site, thus inhibiting photosynthetic electron transport through photosystem II (4,5,6,7). This inhibition results in increased chlorophyll fluorescence and decreased rates of the Hill reaction (8,9,10,11,12).
Protective Status of Medical X-ray Machine Room in Hebei Province

[Objective]To investigate the protection levels of medical diagnostic X-ray machine room in hospitals at provincial,municipal and county levels in Hebei Province,to detect the performance and protection levels X-ray machines in use,including radiation leakage,air kerma rate of useful rays at entering surface of subjects,and the use and allocation of protective articles of hospital subjects.[Methods]451P ionization chamber survey meter was used for radiation protection and leak detection,victorcen NEROTM mAx system was adopted for detection of air kerma rate of useful rays at entering surface of subjects.The on-site survey method was applied for protective article use and allocation.[Results]The protection levels of part of hospitals' machine room were not qualified,the maximum of X-ray machine radiation leak was 1 100 μSv/h.The air kerma rate of useful rays at entering surface of subjects was up to 162 mGy/min,the total received dose could reach 1.335 Gy.88.2% could not provide rational protection for subjects based on the requirements.[Conclusion]Many problems exist in some hospitals' X-ray machine room protection and X-ray machine performance protection which may cause damage to doctors and patients.
Directionality of menstrual flow: cervical os diameter as a determinant of retrograde menstruation.

Objective To develop a mathematical model to examine the factors that control the directionality of menstrual flow. Design The model consisted of a rigid cavity, filled with a viscous liquid, with three outflow ports: a set of paired outflow ports (fallopian tube ostia) and an additional single outflow port (cervical os). The Darcy-Weisbach equation was used to calculate flow rates through the ports. Results At cervical os diameters of Conclusion If retrograde menstruation is a risk factor for the development of endometriosis, menstruating women with cervical os diameters
An Active Filter-Enabled Power Architecture for Oscillating Wave Energy Generation

This paper proposes an active filter-enabled power architecture to harness oscillating power from wave energy converter (WEC). The power architecture consists of a diode rectifier and a dc–dc converter to extract active power and a partially rated active filter to supply harmonic and reactive power. The proposed power conversion system is cost-effective compared with a conventional, fully rated power converter in generating oscillating power from the WEC, using both squirrel-cage induction generator (SCIG) and permanent magnet synchronous generator. Analytically, it is shown that the low switching frequency of the active filter is adequate to absorb the harmonic current generated due to the diode rectification. Overall system modeling and control strategy are described for the SCIG-based system. The feasibility of the proposed system is validated through experimental implementation with an emulated WEC. A design guideline of the proposed system for high-power applications is elaborated.
Characterization of Amplitude Noise to Phase Noise Conversion in Charge-Compensated Modified Unitravelling Carrier Photodiodes

The phase noise, i.e., amplitude modulation to phase modulation (AM-PM) in the photodetector. In general, AM-PM of charge-compensated modified uni-travelling carrier (CC-MUTC) photodiodes originates from the combined nonlinearities of the detector impedance and carrier transit times, which depend on the electric field distribution and the velocity-field characteristics of carrier transport. In this work, we report measurements of AM-PM in transit-time-limited CC-MUTC photodiodes. A Crosslight-based simulation of the photodetection process is used to quantitatively estimate the AM-PM of CC-MUTC photodiodes. Simulated AM-PM of a 15-GHz microwave signal shows good agreement with experimental results. The measured and simulated AM-PM versus photocurrent exhibit a null point that originates from the competition between hole deceleration due to the collapsed electric field in the depleted absorption region and electron acceleration in the self-induced electric field in the undepleted absorption region.
Seismic hazard estimation of northern Iran using smoothed seismicity

This article presents a seismic hazard assessment for northern Iran, where a smoothed seismicity approach has been used in combination with an updated seismic catalog and a ground motion prediction equation recently found to yield good fit with data. We evaluate the hazard over a geographical area including the seismic zones of Azerbaijan, the Alborz Mountain Range, and Kopeh-Dagh, as well as parts of other neighboring seismic zones that fall within our region of interest. In the chosen approach, seismic events are not assigned to specific faults but assumed to be potential seismogenic sources distributed within regular grid cells. After performing the corresponding magnitude conversions, we decluster both historical and instrumental seismicity catalogs to obtain earthquake rates based on the number of events within each cell, and smooth the results to account for the uncertainty in the spatial distribution of future earthquakes. Seismicity parameters are computed for each seismic zone separately, and for the entire region of interest as a single uniform seismotectonic region. In the analysis, we consider uncertainties in the ground motion prediction equation, the seismicity parameters, and combine the resulting models using a logic tree. The results are presented in terms of expected peak ground acceleration (PGA) maps and hazard curves at selected locations, considering exceedance probabilities of 2 and 10% in 50 years for rock site conditions. According to our results, the highest levels of hazard are observed west of the North Tabriz and east of the North Alborz faults, where expected PGA values are between about 0.5 and 1 g for 10 and 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years, respectively. We analyze our results in light of similar estimates available in the literature and offer our perspective on the differences observed. We find our results to be helpful in understanding seismic hazard for northern Iran, but recognize that additional efforts are necessary to obtain more robust estimates at specific areas of interest and different site conditions.
MUSICAL EVIDENCE FOR SYLLABIFICATION OF HIGHLY MORAIC STRUCTURES IN ENGLISH

This project looked at the use of highly moraic rimes in English through their behavior in music when sung by American singer-songwriters. Our target rimes were words ending in [ ai] and [ail] (such as "fire" or "tile"). According to previous research, there is a direct correlation between linguistic and musical rhythm; therefore, by looking at the number of pitches an artist sung to each target rime, we were able to indirectly determine implicit decisions by speakers and subsequently learn about their usage of these structures. Our findings indicate that there are indeed two groups of artists, those who sing multiple pitches (indicating multiple syllables) for target words and those who only sing one (indicating one syllable).
Controller reduction using canonical interactions

A new controller reduction method is based primarily on the interactions between the plant of order n and a high order controller of order m, as described by canonical correlation coefficients. A free parameter in the algorithm allows one to stress selectively various desirable properties of the reduced controller such as stability robustness, covariance approximation etc. Several examples demonstrate the validity of the method.
Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Bladder Augmentation in Children

Augmentation cystoplasty (AC) has long been a staple in the management of bladder dysfunction in children, traditionally performed via an open approach. The use of various bowel segments has been described, including the stomach, small bowel, and colon, but the open ileocystoplasty remains the most popular bladder augmentation procedure [1].
Drug Detection in Urine for Evaluating Exposure—No Limits!

The major goals of exposure testing in the chronic pain or addiction management setting are to verify that a patient has recently taken the drug(s) prescribed to him or her, and to detect use of nonprescribed drugs. Random urine drug testing, used in combination with other tools for evaluating patient behavior, is thought to reduce the likelihood of drug misuse and thereby promote patient safety and efficacy. Urine drug tests are recommended by the 2016 Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain that was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1), as well as many professional associations, including the American Pain Society and the American Association of Pain Management. That said, no test is perfect—no single drug test can detect all drugs—and detection of drugs does not equate to adherence with therapy. Some laboratories have applied forensic drug-testing principles and practices from the federal workplace drug-testing program, managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)3, to urine drug testing performed in a clinical setting. This makes sense because the SAMHSA program mandates content of drug tests and cutoffs, i.e., the concentration thresholds used to differentiate positive from negative results. However, experience has demonstrated that the drugs of interest to chronic pain or addiction management, …
Excellent Outcomes of Liver Transplantation Following Down-Staging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Within Milan Criteria: A Multicenter Study

Background & Aims Single-center studies have reported excellent outcomes of patients who underwent liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after successful down-staging (reduction of tumor burden with local-regional therapy), but multi-center studies are lacking. We performed a multi-center study, applying a uniform down-staging protocol, to assess outcomes of liver transplantation and performed an intention to treat analysis. We analyzed factors associated with treatment failure, defined as dropout from the liver transplant waitlist due to tumor progression, liver-related death without transplant, or recurrence of HCC after transplant. Methods We performed a retrospective multi-center study of 187 consecutive adults with HCC enrolled in the down-staging protocol at 3 liver transplant centers in California (Region 5), from 2002 through 2012. All patients underwent abdominal imaging 1 month after each local-regional treatment, and at a minimum of once every 3 months. The primary outcome was probability of treatment failure. Results Liver transplantation was performed after successful down staging in 109 patients (58%). Tumor explant from only 1 patient had poorly differentiated grade and 7 (6.4%) had vascular invasion. Based on Kaplan-Meier analysis of data collected a median 4.3 years after liver transplantation, 95% of patients would survive 1 year and 80% of patients would survive 5 years; probabilities of recurrence-free survival were 95% and 87%, respectively. There were no center-specific differences in survival in the intention to treat analysis ( P = .62), in survival after liver transplantation ( P = .95), or in recurrence of HCC ( P = .99). Patients were removed from the liver transplantation waitlist due to tumor progression in (n = 59; 32%) or liver-related death without liver transplantation (n = 9; 5%). Factors associated with treatment failure, based on multivariable analysis, were pre-treatment levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) >1000 ng/mL (hazard ratio, 3.3; P P 1000 and Child Pugh class B or C vs 29.4% for patients with neither risk factor ( P Conclusions In a retrospective, multi-center study on HCC down staging under a uniform protocol, we found patients to have excellent outcomes following liver transplantation, with no center-specific effects. Our findings support application of the down-staging protocol on a broader scale. Patients with Child Pugh class B or C and AFP >1000 are unlikely to benefit from down staging.
The Implications of Apportionment on Quality Candidate Emergence and Electoral Competition

The U.S. apportions congressional districts both across states and within states based upon population. Scholars have long focused on the electoral implications of redistricting within states, but there has been less consideration of the electoral implications of apportionment across states. In this paper, I analyze congressional elections from 2002 to 2014 and theorize that the limited number of political opportunities in states with few congressional districts will lead to higher levels of quality candidate emergence and electoral competition in these states. I find support for this theory; specifically, as the number of political opportunities in a state increases, the number of quality candidates running for office decreases.
Strengthening a Religious Social Support System: A Brief Report:

Attendance at a Roman Catholic church in a metropolitan area had declined markedly over the past few years. With the cooperation of church officials, a needs assessment was conducted, and the findi...
Design analysis indicates Potential overestimation of treatment effects in randomized controlled trials supporting Food and Drug Administration cancer drug approvals.

Abstract Objective Statistical significance drives interpretation of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We examined the type S error risk—claiming a new drug is falsely beneficial—and exaggeration ratio—how estimated effects differ from true effects—to re-emphasize direction and magnitude of treatment effects. Study Design and Setting We systematically reviewed RCTs supporting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of cancer drugs between 2007 and 2016. We extracted data for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and response outcomes from FDA reviews. We estimated type S error risks and exaggeration ratios by considering replicated RCTs of equal size and a range of true effects. Results We analyzed 42 RCTs for 39 approved drugs. Across 38 RCTs reporting OS, the median type S error risk was 0.00% (Q1–Q3, 0.00–0.01%) and 3.56% (0.40–6.74%), for true hazard ratios of 0.7 and 0.9, respectively, indicating confidence in effect direction. The corresponding exaggeration ratios were 1.09 (1.01–1.11) and 1.30 (1.13–1.42), indicating median overestimations of 9% and 30%. Similar results held for PFS and response outcomes. Conclusions The type S error risk and exaggeration ratio provide additional insights into the replicability of RCTs. Our analyses also quantify the winner's curse, in which pivotal RCTs tend toward overoptimism.
Abstract 2781: "Wheelz": A novel engineered human antibody for possible CAR T-cell therapy

The purpose of this study is to present a novel engineered human antibody specific to thymidine kinase 1 (TK1). Recent developments in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapeutic approaches have rocketed into the spotlight in the field of cancer immunotherapy. One of the limitations to CAR T-cell therapy is the need for novel targets on cancer cells. The upregulation of serum TK1 has been shown to be an important biomarker in cancer detection and prognosis. Furthermore, we have previously reported the cell surface expression of TK1 on multiple cancer cell lines and in clinical samples. This data merits an investigation of the use of TK1 as a target for CAR T-cells. We have created an engineered human antibody against TK1. We present “Wheelz,” a single chain fragment variable monoclonal antibody with a constant region (scFv-Fc) to potentially target cancer cells expressing surface TK1. Our engineered antibody was isolated from a yeast display library (donated by the Wittrup lab at MIT) using magnetic sorting and flow cytometry to find the top 0.1% of TK1-binding single chain fragments. We fused the resulting scFv region to a constant region (Fc) fragment through restriction digestion and ligation. We then transformed the construct with a secretion vector into yeast and induced the transformed yeast to produce the antibody, which we called “Wheelz.” We purified the antibody using His-tag. In order to confirm specificity to TK1, we used dot blotting and saw specific binding to purified TK1. We performed a western blot using chemiluminescence imaging. This indicated that the engineered human scFv-Fc binds to TK1 present in normal serum, cancer serum, and cancer cell extract in TK19s monomeric, dimeric, and tetrameric forms and did not bind to any other human cellular proteins. In the past, anti-TK1 scFv antibodies of murine origin were used in CAR experiments with some cytotoxic effect. Because “Wheelz” is an engineered human antibody, it could improve previous models by minimizing immune rejection in the patient. Future research will explore the cytotoxic-inducing effects of “Wheelz” before inserting the antibody into a CAR. We will also explore the specificity and cytotoxicity of eight other scFv regions isolated from yeast display that preliminarily appear to be specific for TK1. The specific binding of the engineered scFv-Fc antibody to cell-surface biomarker TK1 makes it a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. “Wheelz” has the potential to expand the repertoire of tumor targets in CAR T-cell therapy. Citation Format: Kiara V. Whitley, Edwin J. Velazquez, Kelsey B. Bennion, Brianne M. Kingery, Scott K. Weber, Kim L. O9Neill. "Wheelz": A novel engineered human antibody for possible CAR T-cell therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2781.
Identity Politics in Sui Sin Far's Mrs. Spring Fragrance: Race and Gender Dynamics in “The Sing Song Woman” and “Its Wavering Image”

This article examines Sui Sin Far9s work within a poststructuralist framework and argues for an elimination of binary structuralist politics when assessing ethnic literature and assigning ethnic identity. Sui Sin Far defies binary structuralist politics that violently circumscribe identities in her writing, which results in an endorsement of ambiguities pertaining to subjectivity, especially in relation to gender and race. This article also produces new close readings of two important short stories in Mrs. Spring Fragrance (1912) that are informed by recent scholarship on Sui Sin Far and identity politics.
Migration and Urban Residence: A Study of Ethnic Relations between the Igbo and Their Neighbors in Southeastern Nigeria

In the face of increased phenomena of ethnonationalisms and inter-ethnic tension and suspicion, the question of how to forge meaningful inter-group relations that will strengthen the project of nation-building in Nigeria is more than ever imperative. Understanding the history of inter-ethnic relations among the various nationalities and groups that constituted modern Nigeria is a major step in addressing the problems associated with ethnic resilience and fragile nation-state. The proposed paper will focus on inter-group relations between the Igbo and their Annang, Andoni, Efik, Ekoi, Ibibio, Ijo, Ogoja, and Ogoni neighbors in the nineteenth- and twentieth-century southeastern Nigeria. The goal is to historically review the nature, patterns and dimensions of these relationships and the lessons that can be discerned from them for the purposes of forging more meaningful and stronger alliances for the wellbeing of all. Using such urban centers as Calabar, Enugu and Port Harcourt as case studies, the paper will analyze the push factors for urban migration, population demographics, economic spaces and accumulation of wealth, social relations, cultural exchanges and identity formations, and politics and the politicization of ethnicity in the region during the period. / / /
Baseline and longitudinal quantification of lean muscle mass using routine CT measurements prior to resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

198Background: When compared to healthy populations subjects are defined as sarcopenic if they have severe loss of lean muscle mass (LMM). Sarcopenia is associated with poor outcomes in some studie...
Blockchain Enabled AI Marketplace: The Price You Pay for Trust

There has been a considerable amount of interest in exploring blockchain technologies for enabling marketplaces of different kinds. In this work, we provide a blockchain implementation that enables an "AI marketplace": a platform where consumers and data providers can transact data and/or models and derive value. Preserving privacy and trust during these transactions is a paramount concern. As an enabling use case, we consider a transfer learning setting. In this setting, a consumer entity wants to acquire a large training set, from different private data providers, that matches a small validation dataset provided by the consumer. Data providers expect fair value for their contribution and the consumer also wants to maximize its benefit. We implement a distributed protocol on a blockchain that provides guarantees on privacy and consumer's benefit. We also demonstrate that our blockchain implementation plays a crucial role in addressing the issue of fair value attribution and privacy in a trustable way. We consider three different designs for a blockchain implementation that trades off trust requirements on different entities and the overhead in terms of time taken for completion of the task. The first design provides no trust guarantees. The second one guarantees trust with respect to other participants if the platform is trustworthy. The third one guarantees complete trust with no requirements. Our experiments show that the performance in the second and third cases, with partial/complete trust guarantees, degrade by roughly 2x and 5x respectively, compared to the baseline with no trust guarantees.
The microbiome-adipose tissue axis in systemic metabolism

The intestinal commensal microbiome is an important component of host health, in part by contributing an abundance of metabolites that gain access to the systemic circulation. The microbiome thereby influences the physiology of numerous organ systems outside the gastrointestinal tract. The consequences of this signaling axis between the intestinal microbiome and host are profound, in particular for the modulation of organismal metabolism. Here, we review recent examples whereby the intestinal microbiome influences host metabolism by influencing the biology of adipose tissue. We place a special emphasis on metabolite-driven pathways by which adipose tissue responds to alterations in intestinal microbial colonization. Given its accessibility for therapeutic interventions, the gut microbiome is an attractive relay module for the remote control of systemic metabolism.
Precision neutron flux measurement using the Alpha-Gamma device

The Alpha-Gamma device at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) utilizes neutron capture on a totally absorbing 10 B deposit to measure the absolute neutron flux of a monochromatic cold neutron beam. Gammas produced by the boron capture are counted using high purity germanium detectors, which are calibrated using a well-measured 239 Pu alpha source and the alpha-to-gamma ratio from neutron capture on a thin 10 B target. This device has been successfully operated and used to calibrate the neutron flux monitor for the BL2 neutron lifetime experiment at NIST. It is also being used for a measurement of the 6 Li(n,t)4 He cross section. We shall present its principle of operation along with the current and planned projects involving the Alpha-Gamma device, including the recalibration of the U.S. national neutron standard NBS-1 and (n,f) cross section measurements of 235 U.
Effect of an electric field on liquid helium scintillation produced by fast electrons

The dependence on applied electric field (0--40 kV/cm) of the scintillation light produced by fast electrons and $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles stopped in liquid helium in the temperature range of 0.44 K to 3.12 K is reported. For both types of particles, the reduction in the intensity of the scintillation signal due to the applied field exhibits an apparent temperature dependence. Using an approximate solution of the Debye-Smoluchowski equation, we show that the apparent temperature dependence for electrons can be explained by the time required for geminate pairs to recombine relative to the detector signal integration time. This finding indicates that the spatial distribution of secondary electrons with respect to their geminate partners possesses a heavy, non-Gaussian tail at larger separations and has a dependence on the energy of the primary ionization electron. We discuss the potential application of this result to pulse shape analysis for particle detection and discrimination.
In Reply: Unexpected Decrease in Shunt Surgeries Performed During the Shelter-in-Place Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background It is expected that the incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt malfunctions would remain unchanged during the shelter-in-place period related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective To examine the number of shunt surgeries performed in a single institution during this time interval in comparison to equivalent periods in past years. Methods The numbers of elective and emergent/urgent shunt surgeries performed at a single institution were queried for a 28-d period starting on the third Monday of March, between years 2015 and 2020. These were further stratified by how they presented as well as the type of surgery performed. Results During the 28-d period of interest, in the years between 2015 and 2020, there was a steady increase in the number of shunt surgeries performed, with a maximum of 64 shunt surgeries performed in 2019. Of these, approximately 50% presented in urgent fashion in any given year. In the 4-wk period starting March 16, 2020, a total of 32 shunt surgeries were performed, with 15 of those cases presenting from the outpatient setting in emergent/urgent fashion. For the surgeries performed, there was a statistically significant decrease in the number of revision shunt surgeries performed. Conclusion During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unexpected decrease in the number of shunt surgeries performed, and particularly in the number of revision surgeries performed. This suggests that an environmental factor related to the pandemic is altering the presentation rate of shunt malfunctions.
Introduction: Staging Justice in Early Modern France

It should come as no surprise that justice and the theatrical stage entertained a close, albeit complex, relationship in early modern francophone drama. As Valerie M. Dionne and Marc Bizer remind u...
Frozen Section in Lung and Pleural Pathology

The practice of frozen section in thoracic pathology remains one of the major uses of intraoperative consultation in surgical pathology. Varied thoracic procedures, including mediastinoscopy, thoracoscopy, pleurodesis, wedge lung biopsies, wedge lung resections, and segmental, lobar, and multilobar resections, may require a frozen section for adequacy of sample, diagnosis, real-time staging, or margin assessment. While preoperative evaluation has altered the frequency of frozen section to a degree, differences in inter-institutional practices have made thoracic frozen section a necessary part of intraoperative procedures. This chapter will cover the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma from its mimickers, handling of margins, pitfalls encountered when dealing with rare entities, granulomatous lesions, as well as examination of the challenges of pleural sampling.
Indow, Tarow 1923–2004

Tarow Indow was born in Tokyo, Japan, on August 22, 1923. He attended Keio University where he obtained a Ph.D. degree in psychology in 1959, together with an annual award for excellence. While working on his thesis, he had an opportunity to spend some time at Princeton University where he was introduced to the concept of multi-dimensional scaling, a concept he later applied to color stimuli and percepts.
A Current Examination of the German Energy Industry, Fossil Fuel Use, and Climate Change

Energy firms provide key sources of energy needed to power the world economy. This paper offers a current overview of major energy firms in Germany, including location, geographic operations, and financial performance. German energy firms increasingly use renewable energy sources, thereby reducing use of fossil fuels, which are considered contributors to climate change. The topic of climate change is a highly contentious political debate. The political debate centers on how much of climate change is human-caused and what will be the future consequences. Extensive research indicates that climate change will not have significant negative consequences and could even have beneficial consequences. Nevertheless, radical environmental activists, aka climate-change-catastrophe-proponents (CCCPs), oppose any fossil fuel use. One thing not debatable is that reducing use of fossil fuels has increased the cost of energy and has thereby negatively affected economic progress. That the speculative benefit of reducing use of fossil fuel is more than the cost to society is unlikely. Political leaders, policy makers, and government regulators, in Germany and other countries, should consider both sides of the climate debate when formulating future energy policy.