cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Point-of-Care Testing

With advancements in the standard of care in veterinary medicine and instrument technology, performing in-house laboratory work on a variety of point-of-care instruments, ranging from glucometers to benchtop chemistry analyzers, has become increasingly commonplace. However, the ability of an instrument to perform a test does not guarantee that those results are accurate. Ensuring that your in-clinic laboratory is providing reliable data requires a comprehensive plan that encompasses both common sense practices aimed at preventing errors at each stage of the testing process, as well as standard operating procedures to validate and monitor analyzer performance. These 2 arms of the plan are known as quality assurance and quality control. Although these concepts are typically out of the comfort zone for veterinarians, just as the thought of business management may deter some veterinarians from practice ownership, it is not beyond the capabilities of veterinarians to learn, understand, and incorporate them into their practice. The objectives of this article are to convey the importance of quality assurance and quality control, walk you through the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology guidelines on this topic, and provide direction to additional resources for further education on this topic, all with the focus on point-of-care testing in the in-clinic laboratory.
Sentiment Analysis of Chinese Micro Blog Based on DNN and ELM and Vector Space Model

Analysis of Chinese micro blog has great commercial value and social value. Based on the depth analysis of the language style of the Chinese micro blog, this paper makes a deep research on the sentiment analysis of Chinese microblog based on and DNN ELM and vector space model. First of all, the micro blog Abstract sentiment feature extraction technology is studied in depth. Based on the traditional text representation model, DNN algorithm is used to extract the feature of the abstract emotion. Combined with the characteristics of the short text of micro blog, this paper uses SAE to construct the DNN. In the construction process of vector space, in order to fully and effectively said microblogging text emotional information, in this paper, we introduce the emotional factor and structure factor of information gain feature selection method is improved and introduced the location information of the feature words of TF-IDF weighting calculation method to improve. Then, the sentiment classification of micro blog is deeply studied. In this paper, we use the concept model to express the emotion category of micro blog, and propose the spatial expansion algorithm based on the concept model (ESA). The experimental results show that the presented in this paper, based on DNN microblogging Abstract emotional feature extraction algorithm and the algorithm of conceptual model of spatial development based on the microblogging text emotional other identification is effective.
Epilogue: Afterglow Burns at its Own Pace

Time has passed. Everything has changed, it seems. Life has been churning, like silt turning in and over—shaking loose of winter’s unyielding grip. A new job, a new university, a new town, a new baby—oh, how I have been thrown into possibility. Every path I am walking is the unknown, the unfamiliar. Yet even in the midst of change, some things remain constant.
Perceptions of e-Cigarettes and Noncigarette Tobacco Products Among US Youth

BACKGROUND: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are now the most commonly used tobacco product among US youth. The extent to which perceptions of e-cigarettes’ harm and addictiveness differ from those of other products remains unknown, as does whether these perceptions have changed over time. METHODS: Data from the 2012 and 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a repeated cross-sectional survey of grade 6 to 12 students, were used. Cross-tabulations and logistic regression models were used to describe correlates of perceptions of harm and addictiveness of e-cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco compared with cigarettes. Trends in perceptions of e-cigarettes’ harm among different demographic groups were also assessed. RESULTS: In 2014, 73.0% believed that e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes, compared with 20.2% for smokeless tobacco and 25.8% for cigars. By comparison, 47.1% believed that e-cigarettes were less addictive than cigarettes, compared with only 14.0% for smokeless tobacco and 31.5% for cigars. Use of each product was associated with a perception of decreased harm and addictiveness in adjusted analyses, as was being male, being a non-Hispanic white, and residing with a household member who used that product. Between 2012 and 2014, increasing numbers of US youth thought they were able to assess the relative harm of e-cigarettes and increasingly believed that e-cigarettes are less harmful than cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS: Most US youth view e-cigarettes as less harmful and addictive than cigarettes. Far fewer think similarly about cigars and smokeless tobacco. Increases in e-cigarettes’ perceived safety mirrors rapid increases observed in their use. Perceived safety correlates with use of each tobacco product.
Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (CADM1), a Novel Venous Thrombosis Risk Factor, Is Ubiquitously Present In Vascular Endothelium and Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract Abstract 4316 We recently demonstrated that CADM1, interacting with protein C deficiency, is a novel risk factor for venous thrombosis (VT) Blood 114:3084-3091, 2009. CADM1 likely plays a role in maintaining endothelial barrier function. Prior to this study CADM1 had not been identified in endothelial cells. In this study we have determined the distribution of CADM1 in human vasculature. Methods: Human tissue samples representing all organs as well as large vessels were accessioned from archived paraffin blocks from the surgical pathology division of FAHC. Tissue sections were processed for immunoflourescence using as primary antibodies a chicken monoclonal anti-CADM1 IgY antibody (anti-SynCAM/TSLC1 clone 3E1, MBL Inc, Woburn, MA) and anti-smooth muscle actin (SMA) clone 1A4 (Sigma, St. Louis, MO), anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) rabbit polyclonal antibody (DAKO Inc., Glostrup, DK). vWF staining was used to identify endothelial cells. The secondary antibodies for CADM1, SMA, and vWF were donkey anti chicken alexa 488, donkey anti mouse alexa 647, and donkey anti rabbit alexa 647, respectively. Appropriate negative and positive controls were run. Intensity of staining was rated as absent, trace or present by three observers (TK, DJT, and EGB). Immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) was performed on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (Allcells LLC, Emeryville, CA) using a post embedding procedure with protein-A gold. Peripheral blood leukocytes were evaluated for the presence of CADM1 using the same antibody following cytospin preparation. Results CADM1 was found ubiquitously in the macro- and micro-vasculature of all organs as well as the aorta and saphenous vein with intensity of staining showing modest variability from organ to organ. CADM1 staining of SMA was observed in both arterial and venous vessels but was considerably stronger on the arterial side. IEM demonstrated cytoplasmic immunogold staining associated with elements of rough endoplasmic reticulum and actin filaments as well as at the membranes of filopodia. In contrast, peripheral blood monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes were negative for CADM1expression. Conclusions: CADM1 is expressed ubiquitously in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the macro-and micro-vasculature with IEM evidence for its presence in filopodial cytoplasm and membranes. Peripheral blood leukocytes did not show evidence of CADM1 expression. This is the first report of CADM1 positivity in vascular smooth muscle cells. The biological role of CADM1 remains to be determined but its ubiquitous expression in the endothelium of the macro- and micro-circulation, together with an apparent role in endothelial cell motility, suggests an important role in endothelial homeostasis. Disclosures: Bovill: Haemotologic Technologies, Essex Jct., VT: Equity Ownership.
Against All Odds: Kevin McCollum, Creating Communities Through Theatre

As co-founder of The Producing Office, with Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum (b. 1962) has produced groundbreaking musicals appealing to a younger audience, such as Rent and Avenue Q, and made them affordable by introducing rush ticket lotteries. With experience leading regional arts organizations, McCollum also established The Booking Group, securing production rights to national tours and working with local promoters around the world.
Fast ground filtering for TLS data via Scanline Density Analysis

Abstract Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) efficiently collects 3D information based on lidar (light detection and ranging) technology. TLS has been widely used in topographic mapping, engineering surveying, forestry, industrial facilities, cultural heritage, and so on. Ground filtering is a common procedure in lidar data processing, which separates the point cloud data into ground points and non-ground points. Effective ground filtering is helpful for subsequent procedures such as segmentation, classification, and modeling. Numerous ground filtering algorithms have been developed for Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data. However, many of these are error prone in application to TLS data because of its different angle of view and highly variable resolution. Further, many ground filtering techniques are limited in application within challenging topography and experience difficulty coping with some objects such as short vegetation, steep slopes, and so forth. Lastly, due to the large size of point cloud data, operations such as data traversing, multiple iterations, and neighbor searching significantly affect the computation efficiency. In order to overcome these challenges, we present an efficient ground filtering method for TLS data via a Scanline Density Analysis, which is very fast because it exploits the grid structure storing TLS data. The process first separates the ground candidates, density features, and unidentified points based on an analysis of point density within each scanline. Second, a region growth using the scan pattern is performed to cluster the ground candidates and further refine the ground points (clusters). In the experiment, the effectiveness, parameter robustness, and efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated with datasets collected from an urban scene and a natural scene, respectively.
Thermal probe design for Europa sample acquisition

Abstract The planned lander missions to the surface of Europa will access samples from the subsurface of the ice in a search for signs of life. A small thermal drill (probe) is proposed to meet the sample requirement of the Science Definition Team's (SDT) report for the Europa mission. The probe is 2 cm in diameter and 16 cm in length and is designed to access the subsurface to 10 cm deep and to collect five ice samples of 7 cm 3 each, approximately. The energy required to penetrate the top 10 cm of ice in a vacuum is 26 Wh, approximately, and to melt 7 cm 3 of ice is 1.2 Wh, approximately. The requirement stated in the SDT report of collecting samples from five different sites can be accommodated with repeated use of the same thermal drill. For smaller sample sizes, a smaller probe of 1.0 cm in diameter with the same length of 16 cm could be utilized that would require approximately 6.4 Wh to penetrate the top 10 cm of ice, and 0.02 Wh to collect 0.1 g of sample. The thermal drill has the advantage of simplicity of design and operations and the ability to penetrate ice over a range of densities and hardness while maintaining sample integrity.
Potassium channel structures

The molecular basis of K+ channel function is universally conserved. K+ channels allow K+ flux and are essential for the generation of electric current across excitable membranes. K+ channels are also the targets of various intracellular control mechanisms, such that the suboptimal regulation of channel function might be related to pathological conditions. Because of the fundamental role of K+ channels in controlling membrane excitability, a structural understanding of their function and regulation will provide a useful framework for understanding neuronal physiology. Many recent physiological and crystallographic studies have led to new insights into the workings of K+ channels.
Theological Libraries and “The Next Christendom:” Connecting North American Theological Education to Uses of the Book in the Global South

Survey of the past thirty years of librarian literature on the documentation of world Christianity indicates a number of trends in theological librarianship, including a relative inattention to the connection between the documentation of world Christianity in ATLA libraries, and the needs of theological researchers in North America. A trilogy of recent books by Philip Jenkins on the globalization of Christianity argues for the significance of the writings of the “global South” to reading habits in the “global North.” Based on the work of Jenkins and other scholars, this paper identifies ten specific connections between North American theological education and the documentation of world Christianity – connections that are rooted in the uses of the book in the global South. These are reasons for increased promotion and support of the documentation of world Christianity among ATLA libraries.
Supplementation of Maternal Diets with Docosahexaenoic Acid and Methylating Vitamins Impacts Growth and Development of Fetuses from Malnourished Gilts.

Background Like many species, pregnant swine mobilize and repartition body nutrient stores during extreme malnutrition to support fetal development. Objective The objective of this study was to model chronic human maternal malnutrition and measure effects of methylating-vitamins (MVs, containing choline, folate, B-6, B-12, and riboflavin) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on fetal growth and development. Methods Pregnant gilts (n = 24) were either fully nourished (2.0 kg/d) with a corn-plus-isolated-soy-protein basal diet (control) supplemented with MVs and DHA or nourishment was restricted throughout gestation. Basal diet fed to malnourished gilts was reduced progressively from 50% to 70% restriction (1.0 to 0.6 kg/d) and was supplemented following a 2 (±MVs) x 2 (±DHA) factorial design. Full-term c-sections were performed to assess impacts on low and normal birth weight (LBW/NBW) fetuses (n = 238). Results Body weight gain of malnourished gilts was 10% of full-fed control dams (P < 0.05), but offspring birth weight, length, girth, and percentage of LBW fetuses were not different between treatments. The number of pigs per litter was reduced by 30% in malnourished control dams. Fetal brain weights were reduced by 7% compared to positive controls (P < 0.05). Micronutrient supplementation to malnourished dams increased fetal brain weights back to full-fed control levels. Dams with DHA produced offspring with higher DHA concentrations in brain and liver (P < 0.05). Plasma choline concentration was 4-fold higher in fetuses from unsupplemented malnourished dams (P < 0.0001). Global DNA methylation status of fetuses from restricted dams was higher than in control fetuses, including brain, liver, heart, muscle, and placenta tissues (P < 0.05). Addition of DHA increased methylation in LBW fetal brains (P < 0.05). Conclusions Despite the mobilization of maternal stores, malnourished litters displayed reduced brain development that was fully mitigated by micronutrient supplementation. Severe maternal malnutrition increased global DNA methylation in several fetal tissues that was unaltered by choline and B-vitamin supplementation.
Burst Your Bubble! An Intelligent System for Improving Awareness of Diverse Social Opinions

Social media users are overloaded with diverse opinions by people with opposing stances. Previous research shows that people often look for opinions that reinforce their pre-existing beliefs and stances, which may lead to social polarization. Traditional social media present opinions in a linear list format, which not only lacks structures for people to explore diverse viewpoints but also aggravates their selective exposure to agreeable opinions. To address this problem, we designed an intelligent system that improves awareness of diverse social opinions by providing visual hints and recommendations of opinions (e.g. news articles and comments) on different sides with different indicators. We evaluated our system with news articles about Obamacare repeal issue and their corresponding user comments from Facebook. Results demonstrate that our system could increase people»s awareness of their stances and opinion selection preferences, which mitigates selective exposure and thereby leads to a more balanced perception of social opinions.
Categorical and Limited Dependent Variable Modeling in Higher Education

Higher education researchers have applied increasingly sophisticated regression techniques to the study of many important issues. Historically, the statistical workhorse of this work has been linear regression, which has several desirable properties for analyzing continuous outcomes, and under certain assumptions yields unbiased coefficient estimates. However, several outcomes of interest to higher education scholars are categorical or limited in the values they assume, and using linear regression to study them may violate important assumptions. Herein we provide an overview of regression techniques often employed when studying categorical or limited dependent variables. We begin by discussing the modeling of binary outcomes, which are often studied using linear probability, logistic, or probit models. We then consider dependent variables with multiple categories, modeled using ordinal and multinomial regression methods. We also discuss the use of models for other limited dependent variables, including counts, fractions, and censored or truncated outcomes. Throughout the chapter, we apply these techniques to the study of students’ college choice using a relatively new data set available from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Exercise, calories, and fat: future challenges.

Developments in nutrition in the last 10 to 15 years have been remarkable. Less than 15 years ago the McGovern Committee published the Dietary Goals for the United States.1 They were vigorously opposed—by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy, the American Medical Association and practically everyone else. They were followed by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans2 which were attacked in a similar fashion. Today these recommendations are, for all practical purposes, national nutrition policy. Although all of the issues are still discussed and researched, I see little evidence that the recommendations will be changed. I find it particularly interesting that the recommendations of the Diet and Health Committee of the Food and Nutrition Board3 are quantitatively similar to those in the Dietary Goals.
Biodegradation: problems of molecular recalcitrance and microbial fallibility.

Publisher Summary In this chapter, a variety of environmental and chemical factors affecting the biodegradability or rate of decomposition of organic compounds and natural materials are considered. Resistance of an organic compound to microbial degradation may be attributable to one of the several ecological determinants or to the structure of the chemical itself. Till date, little systematic work has been directed toward establishment of the physiological, physical, and chemical bases for the persistence of specific compounds or complex natural materials in individual environments and the resistance of certain substances to biodegradation. Compiling data, though time-consuming, is not too difficult; providing explanations for these observations is, at the present time, almost impossible. Among the factors that probably affect the biodegradability or decomposition rate of organic materials are: Inaccessibility of the substrate; Absence of some factor essential for growth; Toxicity of the environment; Inactivation of the requisite enzymes; A structural characteristics of the molecule which prevents the enzyme from acting; and the inability of the community of microorganisms to metabolize the compound because of some physiological inadequacy. However, some comments and suggestions can be advanced, but these clearly must be, in the absence of sufficient experimentation, frequently naive or, at best, inadequate.
USC: description of the SNAP system used for MUC-4

The main goal of the SNAP project is to build a massively parallel computer capable of fast and accurate natural language processing [3]. Under NSF funding, a parallel computer was built in the Parallel Knowledge Processing Laboratory at USC and software was developed to operate the machine [2]. The approach in designing SNAP was to find a knowledge representation and a reasoning paradigm useful for natural language processing which exibits massive parallelism. We have selected marker-passing on semantic networks as a way to represent and process linguistic knowledge.
Stigma and Ostracism Associated with HIV/AIDS: Children Carrying the Secret of Their Mothers' HIV+ Serostatus

Qualitative interviews were conducted with mothers (N = 47) who had disclosed their HIV status to their children. The majority of mothers explicitly told their child not to disclose to other people that she was HIV-positive because they feared repercussions in the way of stigma and ostracism for both themselves and their child. Approximately one-fourth of the mothers identified “safe people,” to whom their child could discuss her serostatus, such as family members, health care providers, or therapists. The majority of the children respected their mothers' wishes; only four children disclosed to someone after being explicitly told not to do so. A significant number of children expressed concerns about their friends finding out, fearing that they would be ostracized or that it would be assumed they were also infected. In addition, the children did not want others to find out because they wanted to protect their mothers. The burden of keeping the secret of their mothers' serostatus does seem to be a stressor for some of the children.
iFPNA: A Flexible and Efficient Deep Learning Processor in 28-nm CMOS Using a Domain-Specific Instruction Set and Reconfigurable Fabric

This paper presents iFPNA, instruction-and-fabric programmable neuron array: a deep learning processor using a neural network specific instruction set architecture and reconfigurable fabric. The design is motivated by the trade-off between the efficiency and flexibility of deep learning processor designs. The proposed architecture contains a controller for programming, a global feature buffer for data arrangement, and 16 reconfigurable neuron slices for computing. The controller uses dedicated instructions to control the feature buffer and neuron slices. The neuron slices support multiplication-and-accumulation, non-linear activation, element-wise operation, and the pooling of different bit-width and kernel size. Different deep neural networks are mapped to iFPNA such as conventional CNNs, depthwise/pointwise CNNs, LSTMs, and GRUs. The paper also discusses various data flow mapping schemes. An iFPNA prototype is designed and fabricated on 28-nm HPC CMOS technology. Measurement results show that the iFPNA achieves a peak energy efficiency of 1.72 TOPS/W running at 30-MHz clock rate with 0.63 V voltage supply. The measured latency on AlexNet is 57.2 ms and on LSTM-512 is 40 ms at 125 MHz clock rate.
Financial management and relationship skills education: Gauging consumer interest and delivery preferences

The study reported here explored level of interest and preferred delivery method of Extension programming related to financial management and relationship skills education. These two subjects comprise areas of Extension that often receive less recognition but appear as pertinent issues in the lives of many individuals. Using a diverse sample of 512 residents from the state of Georgia, findings from the study indicate high levels of interest for receiving information in both program areas. Additionally, findings highlight how delivery method preferences depend on both the particular audience and particular content areas.
Comparison of systolic blood pressure measurements by auscultation and visual manometer needle jump

Purpose This study was designed to investigate differences in systolic blood pressure measurements as obtained through auscultation and observation of the visual jump on the manometer. Methods Men (n = 21; 26.9 ± 7.4 yrs) and women (n = 22; 29.3 ± 13.9 yrs) volunteered to have resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) assessments. During the same cardiac inflation-deflation cycle of traditional sphygmomanometry, the initial visual jump of the manometer needle and first Korotkoff sound heard were recorded. Duplicate assessments were made in each arm with 30 sec between intra-arm trials. Results Paired t-test results indicated there were no within-method differences between arms for visual jump (R: 132.1 ± 11.3; L: 131.8 ± 10.5 mmHg) or auscultation (R: 116.8 ± 9.0; L: 113.5 ± 8.8 mmHg). There were methodological differences within arm with visual jump being the higher of the two (right: t(42) = -12.69; left: t(42) = -11.37; p < .001). Conclusion If visual jump determination of SBP cannot be avoided, re-assessment using a more traditional method (i.e. auscultation) is recommended.
Hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia: Diagnosis, management, and prevention

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) cause significant inpatient morbidity and mortality. They are especially challenging to diagnose promptly in the intensive care unit because a plethora of other causes can contribute to clinical decline in complex, critically ill patients. The authors describe the diagnosis, management, and prevention of these diseases based on current guidelines and recent evidence.
First tobacco product tried among adolescents based on race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status

Abstract In recent years, the tobacco use landscape among youth has changed greatly, underscoring a need to understand current tobacco product initiation patterns. This study aimed to examine if adolescents’ first tobacco product tried differs by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 6 Connecticut high schools in Spring 2019 (N = 4875). The analytic sample comprised ever users of tobacco products who reported on the first tobacco product they tried (N = 2530; 53.6% female). Of ever tobacco product users, 64.6% reported that their first tobacco product tried was an e-cigarette, 24.4% reported blunts, 6.5% reported another tobacco product, and 4.5% reported cigarettes. A multinomial logistic regression model examined race/ethnicity and SES as predictors of the first tobacco product tried with cigarettes as the reference group. Compared to Non-Hispanic (NH) White students, NH Black students (OR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.17–0.82), Hispanic students (OR = 0.44, 95%CI = 0.27–0.71), and students of other NH races (OR = 0.30, 95%CI = 0.18–0.52) were less likely to report initiating tobacco product use with e-cigarettes. Additionally, compared to NH White students, NH Black students were more likely to report using blunts as their first tobacco product (OR = 3.01, 95%CI = 1.38–6.56). Compared to low SES, middle SES (OR = 1.62, 95%CI = 1.04–2.52) was associated with greater odds of reporting e-cigarettes as the first tobacco product. These findings suggest that youth of different backgrounds initiate tobacco use with different tobacco products and tailored prevention strategies are needed.
Covering Random Points in the Plane with Equal-Sized Disks: Theory and Simulations

The problem of covering random points in the plane with disks has applications in operations research, as well as being of theoretical interest. In this document we show that the computational complexity may be reduced by classifying points and into several classes (uncovered, single-covered, collateral, and indeterminate) and sets into several classes (non-covering, single-covering, collateral, redundant, and indeterminate). Sets that are single-covering are necessary for the cover, while non-covering, collateral, and redundant sets can be excluded. An optimal cover can be found by applying linear programming to just the indeterminate points and sets, which may be much fewer than the original points and sets given. In addition, indeterminate points and sets may be divided into separate ``islands'' that can be solved separately. Hence the actual complexity is determined by the number of points and sets in the largest island. We give several heatmaps to show how the proportion of points and sets of various types depend on two basic scale-invariant parameters related to point and set density. For a few parameters, we compare these results to some theoretical calculations. A detailed code description is given in the Appendix. This paper represents a work in progress. The final section proposes some future directions for research. In particular, the tendency to form islands as a function of system parameters may be quantified.
Sieve estimation of option-implied state price density

Abstract This paper proposes a nonparametric estimator for the state price density implied by a single cross-section of European options with different strikes and the same maturity. The proposed estimator has two distinctive features. First, it extracts information from both call and put options, as opposed to only call options. Second, it does not require estimating any second-order derivative; instead, it solves a constrained and penalized linear regression. The asymptotic analysis faces two challenges because the state price density is defined by a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind with an unbounded support, and the kernel function is unbounded and non-differentiable. We address these challenges by exploiting the structure of the option pricing problem. After establishing the estimator’s consistency and convergence rate, we apply it to estimate the state price densities implied by the S&P500 index options and those by the VIX options. The sample period includes the recent financial crisis and the Great Recession, during which the turbulent market conditions imposed substantial challenges on the estimation. We show that the estimator can work with both daily and high-frequency observations. We also study whether the various features of this density can predict future asset returns and obtain positive findings. Finally, we apply the method to examine the causal effects of monetary policy announcements on the financial market, using high-frequency data.
A Systematic Review of the Role of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Solid Tumors

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy utilizes patients' own T lymphocytes that are engineered to attack cancer cells. It is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved in various hematological malignancies and currently being evaluated in solid cancers in early phase studies. We did a systematic review consisting of 15 prospective clinical trials (n=159) evaluating CAR-T cells in solid cancers. Early phase trials showed promising response rates in ovarian epithelial cancer (100%), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive sarcoma (67%), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive biliary tract cancer (65%), advanced gastric/pancreatic cancer (82%), hepatocellular carcinoma (67%), and colorectal cancer (70%). The median overall response across all malignancies was 62% (range 17%-100%). Median progression-free survival and overall survival were not reached in most trials. Cytokine release syndrome was seen in only one patient with cholangiocarcinoma who received EGFR-specific CAR-T cell therapy. Although survival data is still not mature, CAR-T cell therapy in solid malignancies did show encouraging response rates and was well-tolerated.
Simple Metrics for Evaluating and Conveying Prognostic Model Performance To Users With Varied Backgrounds

The need for standardized methods for comparison and evaluation of new models and algorithms has been known for nearly as long as there has been models and algorithms to evaluate. Conveying the results of these comparative algorithms to people not intimately familiar with the methods and systems can also present many challenges as nomenclature and relative representative values may vary from case to case. Many predictive models rely primarily on the minimization of simplistic error calculation techniques such as the Mean Squared Error (MSE) for their performance evaluation. This, however, may not provide the total necessary information when the criticality, or importance of a model’s predictions changes over time. Such is the case with prognostic models; predictions early in life can have relatively larger errors with lower impact on the operations of a system than a similar error near the end of life. For example, an error of 10 hours in the prediction of Remaining Useful Life (RUL) when the predicted value is 1000 hours is far less significant than when the predicted value is 25 hours. This temporality of prognostic predictions in relation to the query unit’s lifetime means that any evaluation metrics should capture and reflect this evolution of importance. This work briefly explores some of the existing metrics and algorithms for evaluation of prognostic models, and then offers a series of alternative metrics that provide clear and intuitive measures that fully represent the quality of the model performance on a scale that is independent of the application. This provides a method for relating performance to users and evaluators with a wide range of backgrounds and expertise without the need for specific knowledge of the system in question, helping to aid in collaboration and cross-field use of prognostic methodologies. Four primary evaluation metrics can be used to capture information regarding both timely precision and accuracy for any series or set of prognostic predictions of RUL. These metrics, the Weighted Error Bias, the Weighted Prediction Spread, the Confidence Interval Coverage, and the Confidence Convergence Horizon are all detailed in this work and are designed such that they can easily be combined into a single representative “score” of the overall performance of a prediction set and by extension, the prognostic model that produced it. Designed to be separately informative or used as a group, this set of performance evaluation metrics can be used to quickly compare different prognostic prediction sets not only for the same corresponding query set, but just as simply from differing query data sets by scaling all predictions and metrics to relative values based on the individual query cases.
Universal alignment of surface and bulk oxygen levels in semiconductors

Oxygen and hydrogen are the two most important impurities in semiconductors because of their ubiquitous presence in growth and device processing environments, and consequently, their incorporation strongly influences electronic and electrical properties. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the interaction of these species with the semiconductor surface and bulk defects is necessary for enabling the development of devices based on them, such as photovoltaic and photocatalytic systems and fuel cells. It is shown here, through the analysis of the reported surface work function values and substitutional bulk O-defect energies, that the surface Fermi level of semiconductors with physisorbed O2 lies universally at approximately −5.1 eV below the vacuum level. Similarly, the results show that the energy of substitutional bulk O-related amphoteric defects incorporated during the crystal growth also has a universal energy of ∼−5.0 eV with respect to the vacuum level for most semiconductors investigated. It is shown that the process of “surface transfer doping” involving an adsorbed water film on the semiconductor surface is likely responsible for the universal alignment of oxygen levels.
68Ga-DOTATATE PET-CT as a tool for radiation planning and evaluating treatment responses in the clinical management of meningiomas

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Meningiomas express the somatostatin receptor (SSTR), which normal bone and brain lack. PET imaging with SSTR ligands such as 68 Ga-DOTATATE have been recently shown to aid in the imaging and identification of menginiomas. We hypothesize that 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in conjunction with MRI aids in radiation (RT) target volume delineation and evaluating treatment response. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nineteen patients with meningiomas underwent 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT and MRI for RT planning and/or post-treatment follow-up. Meningiomas were grade I (n = 9) or not biopsied (n = 8) and frequently involved base of skull (n = 10). Ten (53%) patients received post-operative RT and 9 (47%) received fractaionted RT. In the subgroup that underwent both pre- and post-RT 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET as well as MRI (n = 10), ROVER (ABX GmbH, Radeberg, Germany) adaptive thresholding software was utilized to measure total lesion activity (mean and max) before and after treatment. Tumor volume based on MRI was calculated before and after treatment. Total lesion activity and tumor volume changes were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank test. RESULTS 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT identified intraosseous (n = 4, 22%), falcine (n = 5, 26%) and satellite lesions (n = 3, 19%) and clarified the diagnosis of meningioma, resulting in a change in management in three patients. Mean total lesion activity decreased 14.7% (median), from pre to post-RT 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET [range 97-8.5% (25-75%),S = - 26.5, p = 0.0039]. Max total lesion activity decreased 36% (median) over the same period [range 105-15% (25-75%), S = - 26.5 p = 0.0039]. In contrast, meningioma volumes based on MRI measurements did not significantly change per RECIST criteria and Wilcoxon signed rank test (S = - 3, p = 0.7422). CONCLUSION 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT helped confirm suspected diagnoses and delineate target volumes particularly when lesions involved osseous structures and the falx. Mean and max total tumor 68 Ga-DOTATATE activity on PET/CT decreased at three months following RT despite stable tumor volumes on MRI. Future studies are warranted to (1) assess the sensitivity and specificity of 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT, (2) evaluate the impact of 68 Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT-based planning on treatment outcomes, and (3) assess the prognostic significance of these post-treatment imaging changes.
Under-Oil Autonomously Regulated Oxygen Microenvironments: A Goldilocks Principle-Based Approach For Microscale Cell Culture

Oxygen levels in vivo are autonomously regulated by a supply-demand balance, which can be altered in disease states. However, the oxygen levels of in vitro cell culture systems, particularly microscale cell culture, are typically dominated by either supply or demand. Further, the oxygen microenvironment in these systems are rarely monitored or reported. Here, we present a method to establish and dynamically monitor autonomously regulated oxygen microenvironments (AROM) using an oil overlay in an open microscale cell culture system. Using this method, the oxygen microenvironment is dynamically regulated via a supply-demand balance of the system. We simulate the kinetics of oxygen diffusion in multiliquid-phase microsystems on COMSOL Multiphysics and experimentally validate the method using a variety of cell types including mammalian, fungal and bacterial cells. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of this method to establish a co-culture between primary intestinal epithelial cells and a highly prevalent human gut species Bacteroides uniformis.
AFHVS 2021 Presidential Address: critical praxis and the social imaginary for food systems transformation.

In this 2021 AFHVS Presidential Address, Kim Niewolny provides a brief foray into the onto-epistemic framing of critical praxis for sustainable food systems transformation. Niewolny proposes we engage in the creative entanglement of critical praxis and the social imaginary to “unthink” the orthodoxies that govern our ideas of the possible. She offers several possibilities as pathways toward a food system that embodies health equity, ecological justice, land sovereignty, and human rights, including: (1) agroecological research and movement building; (2) food, farm, and health policy; (3) food and farm system worker protections as public health and human rights concerns; (4) intersectional food justice scholarship and curriculum; (5) narrative-led, community-based, and action-oriented methodologies as multi-dimensional inquiry; (6) and multi-sector and multi-racial coalitions as dynamic networks that challenge linear, neoliberal, and technical-rational practices. Niewolny concludes with a call for radical hope as a principle for critical food systems praxis.
Crime on the Concrete Campus: An Examination of Crime Patterns Around the Georgia State University Campus

This study examines patterns of crime around the Georgia State University (GSU) campus from January 2007 to July 2012. Since moving into the renovated Bolling Jones Building on Ivy Street in 1947, GSU has gradually built a campus by purchasing surrounding land and buildings in downtown Atlanta. Following the introduction of the Main Street Master Plan in 1997, the university has expanded into areas farther away from its core at the intersection of Peachtree Center Avenue (previously Ivy Street) and Decatur Street. With the university's expansion and opening of residence halls within walking distance of the core academic buildings, crime on and surrounding campus has gained more attention in the local media. This study examines the influence of routine activity and social disorganization theories on the GSU campus and its surrounding area. Hotspot analysis is performed using geocoded data from the GSU and Atlanta police departments with a one-mile buffer around a central location on the GSU campus. This re...
Legal Intermediaries: How Insurance Companies Construct the Meaning of Compliance with Antidiscrimination Laws

Existing empirical research suggests that human resource officials, managers, and in-house counsel influence the meaning of antidiscrimination law by communicating an altered ideology of what civil rights laws mean that is colored with managerial values. This article explores how insurance companies play a critical and, as yet, unrecognized role in mediating the meaning of antidiscrimination law through Employment Practice Liability Insurance (EPLI). My analysis draws from, links, and contributes to two literatures that examine organizational behavior in different ways: new institutional organizational sociology studies of how organizations respond to legal regulation and sociolegal insurance scholars' research on how institutions govern through risk. Through participant observation at EPLI conferences, interviews, and content analysis of insurance loss prevention manuals, my study bridges these two literatures and highlights how the insurance field uses a risk-based logic to construct the threat of employment law and influence the form of compliance from employers. Faced with uncertain legal risk concerning potential discrimination violations, insurance institutions elevate the risk and threat in the legal environment and offer EPLI and a series of risk-management services that build discretion into legal rules and mediate the nature of civil rights compliance. My data suggest that insurance risk-management services may sometimes be compatible with civil rights goals of improving equality, due process, and fair governance in workplace settings, but at other times may simply make discrimination claims against employers more defensible.
Limitations-Filing of Personal Injury Action by the Insurer-Subrogee, In an Uninsured Motorist Case, after the One Year Limitation Period has Expired Will Not Preclude the Filing of a Cross-Complaint for Personal Injury , Arising Out of the Same Facts, by the Uninsured Motorist

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Ossifying fibroma involving the maxilla and mandible: Report of a case

Abstract A case of ossifying fibroma involving both the maxilla and the mandible has been presented. The maxillary tumor was treated by complete enucleation and curettage. The mandibular tumor is scheduled for removal shortly, and reconstruction of the right maxillary area is planned.
Serious Complications from Staphylococcal aureus in Atopic Dermatitis.

Colonization with Staphylococcal aureus is markedly more frequent in individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) than in unaffected individuals. Chronic scratching leads to worsening of an existing defect in the epidermal barrier, which can allow S. aureus invasion into the bloodstream and subsequent systemic infections. We report two unusual cases of systemic illness in individuals with AD. One developed infective endocarditis followed by a stroke and the other developed septic arthritis and osteomyelitis. We performed an extensive literature review of reported systemic complications caused by S. aureus in patients with AD. Although reports are rare, practitioners should be aware of these important, albeit unlikely, complications of staphylococcal superinfections in individuals with AD.
The string test: an early behavioral change in thiamine deficiency.

Abstract Thiamine deficiency is a useful animal model of the interaction between biochemistry and behavior. Although numerous biochemical changes have been detected in thiamine deficiency, studies of behavioral changes are relatively scarce. We have modified and quantitated the string test, originally described by Miquel and Blasco, for application to thiamine-deficient rats. The string test is reproduciblt with time, and control rats have a narrow range of scores. 50% of rats treated with thiamine-deficient diet and pyrithiamine, a centrally-acting thiamine antagonist, have persistently decreased string test scores. This decrease is already present on day 5 of treatment, long before the onset of weight loss or neurological symptoms. Rats treated with oxythiamine, a peripherally acting thiamine antagonist, do not have decreased string test scores, even when anorectic and moribund. These findings suggest that impaired string test performance is a central nervous system effect of thiamine deficiency, and that it may also be a useful behavioral parameter to follow in other animal models of metabolic encephalopathies.
Control of packed column fouling in the continuous fermentation and stripping of ethanol.

By recycling the contents of a 14 L fermentor through a stripping column to continuously remove ethanol and reduce product inhibition, continuous complete conversion of nutrient feed containing 600 g/L glucose was achieved in a small pilot plant. Ethanol was recovered from the carbon dioxide stripping gas in a refrigerated condenser, and the gas was reheated with steam and recycled by a blower. Productivity of ethanol in the fermentor as high as 15.8 g/L/h and condensate production of up to 10 L/day of almost 50% by volume ethanol were maintained for up to 60 days of continuous operation. Weekly washing of the column packing in situ was required to prevent loss of performance caused by attached growth of yeast cells, which restricts the gas flow rate through the stripping column.