Concepts, core knowledge, and the rationalism-empiricism debate.

While Spelke provides powerful support for concept nativism, her focus on understanding concept nativism through six innate core knowledge systems is too confining. There is also no reason to suppose that the curse of a compositional mind constitutes a principled reason for positing less innate structure in explaining the origins of concepts. Any solution to such problems must take into account poverty of the stimulus considerations, which argue for postulating more innate structure, not less.

Prospective, multicenter study to evaluate performance and safety of a re-engineered temporary lead for InterStim™ therapy evaluation.

AIMS: The basic evaluation or percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) is a method to assess pre-implantation therapeutic response in patients considering sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of refractory overactive bladder. A new PNE lead with a more robust design and greater distensibility designed to reduce the possibility of lead migration has recently been introduced to the market. The aim of this prospective, multicenter, global, postmarket study was to evaluate the clinical performance and safety of the new InterStim PNE lead with the foramen needle. METHODS: Patients with overactive bladder were enrolled in this study. The primary objective of this study was to determine the proportion of subjects who demonstrated motor or sensory response(s) during lead placement using the InterStim PNE lead. Additional measures included the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), patient satisfaction at the end of therapy evaluation, and change in bladder symptoms from baseline to the end of therapy evaluation (1-week follow-up visit). RESULTS: One-hundred and ten subjects met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent a lead implant procedure. Of those, 108 had a successful procedure and 107 completed the 1-week follow-up visit. Ninety-nine percent of subjects (109/110) had a motor or sensory response during needle placement (95% confidence interval [CI]: 95%-100%) and 97% of subjects (107/110) had a motor or sensory response during lead placement (95% CI: 92%-99%). The majority of subjects (88%, 95/108) reported their bladder condition was better at the follow-up visit compared to before the PNE implant procedure, as reported in PGI-I. Subjects reported being satisfied with how the therapy impacted their voiding symptoms (82%, 88/108) and that they would recommend this therapy (87%, 94/108) to other patients. Symptom improvement was demonstrated with urinary urge incontinence subjects having an average of 4.2 ± 3.4 urinary incontinence episodes/day at baseline and 2.2 ± 2.5 at follow-up, and urinary frequency subjects having an average of 12.5 ± 4.4 voids/day at baseline and 10.5 ± 4.3 voids/day at follow-up. Lead removal was deemed to be easy and safe by the implanting physician, with a total of three adverse device effects in 3/110 subjects. No event was categorized as serious and all were resolved without sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: The updated InterStim PNE lead with a more robust design and greater distensibility designed to reduce migration was shown to have a high rate of motor or sensory response during lead placement. Furthermore, subjects reported high rates of global improvements and amelioration of symptoms, and the lead was easy to remove with minimal morbidity.

A prospective, multicenter, international study to explore the effect of three different amplitude settings in female subjects with urinary urge incontinence receiving interstim therapy.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of sub-sensory amplitude settings of sacral neuromodulation therapy on overactive bladder symptoms in subjects with urinary urge incontinence. METHODS: Subjects who qualified for a neurostimulator device implant were randomized to one of three amplitude settings (50% of sensory threshold [ST], 80% of ST, and ST). Subjects completed urinary voiding diaries (3-day), International consultation on incontinence modular questionnaire-overactive bladder symptoms quality of life questionnaire, and patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I) to assess change in voiding symptoms and quality of life (QoL) from baseline through 12 weeks. RESULTS: Forty-eight subjects had a successful test stimulation, 46 were implanted with a neurostimulator device and 43 completed the 12-week follow-up visit. The change from baseline to 12 weeks is -3.0 urinary incontinence (UI) episodes/day (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.4 to -1.7) for the 50% of sensory threshold group, -2.9 UI episodes/day (95% CI: -4.7 to -1.2) for 80% of sensory threshold group, and -3.6 UI episodes/day (95% CI: -5.2 to -1.9) for the sensory threshold group. In each randomized group, improvements were observed in health-related QoL, its subscales, and symptom interference. Subjects across all three randomization groups reported on the PGI-I that their bladder condition was better at 12 weeks compared to before they were treated with InterStim therapy. CONCLUSION: These findings provide insights into possible advancements in the postimplantation phase of therapy with potential for improved patient comfort and increased device longevity.

Animals are not cognitively stuck in time.

We argue that animals are not cognitively stuck in time. Evidence pertaining to multisensory temporal order perception strongly suggests that animals can represent at least some temporal relations of perceived events.

Infants, animals, and the origins of number.

Where do human numerical abilities come from? Leibovich et al. argue against nativist views of numerical development noting limitations in newborns' vision and limitations regarding newborns' ability to individuate objects. I argue that these considerations do not undermine competing nativist views and that Leibovich et al.'s model itself presupposes that infant learners have numerical representations.

The priority of the individual in cultural inheritance.

Smaldino's proposed extension of the theory of cultural evolution embraces emergent group-level traits. We argue, instead, that group-level traits reduce to the traits of individuals, particularly when it comes to the question of how group-level traits are inherited or transmitted, and that this metaphysical fact is integral to the theory of cultural evolution.

Validation of an algorithm for sound-based voided volume estimation.

A voiding diary is commonly used in clinical practice to monitor urinary tract health. However, manual recording and use of a measuring cup can cause significant inaccuracy and inconvenience. Recently sound-based voided volume estimation algorithms such as proudP have shown potential to accurately measure the voided volumes of patients urination while overcoming these inconveniences. In order to validate the sound-based voided volume estimation algorithm, we chose bodyweight change after urination as a reference value. Total 508 subjects from the United States and Korea were enrolled. 584 data points that have matching bodyweights change data and urination sound data were collected, and fivefold cross validation was performed in order to evaluate the model on all data in the dataset. The mean voided volume estimated by the algorithm was 202.6 mL (SD: ± 114.8) while the mean bodyweight change after urination was 208.0 g (SD: ± 121.5), and there was a strong linear correlation with high statistical significance (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.92, p-value < 0.001). Two paired t-test showed the equivalence with bodyweight change data with 10 mL margin. Additionally, a Bland-Altman plot shows a mean difference of - 5.5 mL with LoA (- 98.0, 87.1). The results support high performance of the algorithm across the large population data from multi-site clinical trials.

Making sense of domain specificity.

The notion of domain specificity plays a central role in some of the most important debates in cognitive science. Yet, despite the widespread reliance on domain specificity in recent theorizing in cognitive science, this notion remains elusive. Critics have claimed that the notion of domain specificity can't bear the theoretical weight that has been put on it and that it should be abandoned. Even its most steadfast proponents have highlighted puzzles and tensions that arise once one tries to go beyond an initial intuitive sketch of what domain specificity involves. In this paper, we address these concerns head on by developing an account of what it means for a cognitive mechanism to be domain specific that overcomes the obstacles that have made domain specificity seem so problematic. We then apply this understanding of domain specificity to one of the key debates that it has figured prominently in-the rationalism-empiricism debate concerning the origins of cognitive traits-and introduce several related theoretical notions that work alongside domain specificity in helping to clarify what makes a view more (or less) rationalist. This example illustrates how the notion of domain specificity can, and should, continue to play a central role in ongoing debates in cognitive science.

Validation of a CE-IVD, urine exosomal RNA expression assay for risk assessment of prostate cancer prior to biopsy.

Improved risk stratification of patients suspected of prostate cancer prior to biopsy continues to be an unmet clinical need. ExoDx Prostate (IntelliScore) "EPI" is a non-invasive urine test utilizing RNA from exosomes to provide a risk score that correlates with the likelihood of finding high grade prostate cancer at biopsy. Here, we present the results from a prospective clinical validation study of EPI-CE, a CE-marked in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) assay, specifically developed for use in European clinical laboratories. The study (NCT04720599) enrolled patients with ≥ 50 years, PSA 2-10 ng/mL, prior to MRI, who were scheduled for initial biopsy. First catch urine samples were collected from participants without prior digital rectal examination or prostate massage. Exosomal RNA was isolated and expression levels of three biomarkers ERG, PCA3 and SPDEF were analyzed according to the EPI-CE Instructions For Use. In the study cohort of N = 109 patients, EPI-CE was validated to have a Negative Predictive Value of 89%, a Sensitivity of 92% and a superior performance to two commonly used multiparametric risk calculators (PCPT and ERSPC) in both Receiver Operating Characteristics with a higher Area Under the Curve for EPI-CE 0.67 (95% CI 0.56-0.77) versus PCPT 0.59 (95% CI 0.47-0.71) and ERSPC 0.60 (95% CI 0.49-0.72) and higher Net Benefits analysis across a wide range of risk acceptance levels. This is the first clinical study reporting on the performance of EPI-CE. We demonstrate that EPI-CE provides information beyond standard clinical parameters and provides a better risk assessment prior to MRI, of patients suspected of prostate cancer, than the commonly used multiparametric risk calculators.

Concepts and theoretical unification.

Concepts are mental symbols that have semantic structure and processing structure. This approach (1) allows for different disciplines to converge on a common subject matter; (2) it promotes theoretical unification; and (3) it accommodates the varied processes that preoccupy Machery. It also avoids problems that go with his eliminativism, including the explanation of how fundamentally different types of concepts can be co-referential.

A Prospective Study to Evaluate Efficacy Using the Nuro Percutaneous Tibial Neuromodulation System in Drug-Naïve Patients With Overactive Bladder Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes from baseline in urgency urinary incontinence episodes, urinary frequency and quality of life through 12 weeks of percutaneous tibial neuromodulation (PTNM) therapy using NURO in drug-naïve overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) subjects. METHODS: Eligible subjects underwent 12 weekly PTNM sessions with the NURO system. Changes in voiding symptoms were evaluated with bladder diaries from baseline through 12 weeks. Analyses were conducted for subjects with data at baseline and follow-up visits (sessions 1, 4, 8, and 12). Safety was evaluated through adverse events (AE) related to the device, procedure, and therapy. RESULTS: Of 154 subjects enrolled in the study,120 subjects met study criteria and received PTNM. The mean age was 64.8 years, mean duration of OAB diagnosis was 3.4 years and 86% female subjects. No subjects tried OAB medication prior to enrollment. At baseline, patients had 3.5 ± 2.5 (mean ± SD) UUI episodes/day. Statistically significant improvement in urgency urinary incontinence episodes from baseline was observed at each follow-up visit (P < .0001), with a reduction of 2.4 ± 2.1 episodes after session 12 from baseline. Subjects with urinary frequency at baseline had 11.5 ± 2.9 voids/day. After session 12, a statistically significant reduction of 1.7 ± 2.5 voids/day was observed (P < .0001). Ninety-six percent (116/120) of subjects completed the study with diary data for the primary objective with an average of 11.6 sessions. There were no serious or unanticipated AEs. The most common AEs were medical device site pain (3.3%, 4/121) and extremity pain (3.3%, 4/121). CONCLUSION: PTNM using NURO is an effective and safe treatment for drug-naïve patients with OAB.

How to learn the natural numbers: inductive inference and the acquisition of number concepts.

Theories of number concepts often suppose that the natural numbers are acquired as children learn to count and as they draw an induction based on their interpretation of the first few count words. In a bold critique of this general approach, Rips, Asmuth, Bloomfield [Rips, L., Asmuth, J. & Bloomfield, A. (2006). Giving the boot to the bootstrap: How not to learn the natural numbers. Cognition, 101, B51-B60.] argue that such an inductive inference is consistent with a representational system that clearly does not express the natural numbers and that possession of the natural numbers requires further principles that make the inductive inference superfluous. We argue that their critique is unsuccessful. Provided that children have access to a suitable initial system of representation, the sort of inductive inference that Rips et al. call into question can in fact facilitate the acquisition of larger integer concepts without the addition of any further principles.

Corrigendum: Incorrect Spelling of Author's Name: US Preventive Services Task Force prostate-specific antigen screening guidelines result in higher Gleason score diagnoses.

[This corrects the article on p. 423 in vol. 58.].

A Prospective Adaptive Utility Trial to Validate Performance of a Novel Urine Exosome Gene Expression Assay to Predict High-grade Prostate Cancer in Patients with Prostate-specific Antigen 2-10ng/ml at Initial Biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Discriminating indolent from clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa) in the initial biopsy setting remains an important issue. Prospectively evaluated diagnostic assays are necessary to ensure efficacy and clinical adoption. OBJECTIVE: Performance and utility assessment of ExoDx Prostate (IntelliScore) (EPI) urine exosome gene expression assay versus standard clinical parameters for discriminating Grade Group (GG) ≥2 PCa from GG1 PCa and benign disease on initial biopsy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A two-phase adaptive clinical utility study (NCT03031418) comparing EPI results with biopsy outcomes in men, with age ≥50 yr and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) 2-10ng/ml, scheduled for initial prostate biopsy. After EPI performance assessment during phase I, a clinical implementation document (ie, CarePath) was developed for utilizing the EPI test in phase II, where the biopsy decision is uncertain. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Performance evaluation of the EPI test in patients enrolled in phase I and publication of a consensus CarePath for phase II. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: In a total of 503 patients, with median age of 64 yr, median PSA 5.4ng/ml, 14% African American, 70% Caucasian, 53% positive biopsy rate (22% GG1, 17% GG2, and 15% ≥ GG3), EPI was superior to an optimized model of standard clinical parameters with an area under the curve (AUC) 0.70 versus 0.62, respectively, comparable with previously published results (n=519 patients, EPI AUC 0.71). Validated cut-point 15.6 would avoid 26% of unnecessary prostate biopsies and 20% of total biopsies, with negative predictive value (NPV) 89% and missing 7% of ≥GG2 PCa. Alternative cut-point 20 would avoid 40% of unnecessary biopsies and 31% of total biopsies, with NPV 89% and missing 11% of ≥GG2 PCa. The clinical investigators reached consensus recommending use of the 15.6 cut-point for phase II. Outcome of the decision impact cohort in phase II will be reported separately. CONCLUSIONS: EPI is a noninvasive, easy-to-use, gene expression urine assay, which has now been successfully validated in over 1000 patients across two prospective validation trials to stratify risk of ≥GG2 from GG1 cancer and benign disease. The test improves identification of patients with higher grade disease and would reduce the total number of unnecessary biopsies. PATIENT SUMMARY: It is challenging to predict which men are likely to have high-grade prostate cancer (PCa) at initial biopsy with prostate-specific antigen 2-10ng/ml. This study further demonstrates that the ExoDx Prostate (IntelliScore) test can predict ≥GG2 PCa at initial biopsy and defer unnecessary biopsies better than existing risk calculator's and standard clinical data.

US Preventive Services Task Force prostate-specific antigen screening guidelines result in higher Gleason score diagnoses.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact that the 2012 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening guidelines have had on the diagnosis of prostate cancer, we compared the incidence and distribution of new cases diagnosed in 2011-before the USPSTF PSA screening recommendations versus 2014 at which time the guidelines were widely adopted. Materials and Methods: We identified all prostate biopsies performed by a large urology group practice utilizing a centralized pathology lab. We examined total biopsies performed, percentage of positive biopsies, and for those with positive biopsies examined for differences in patient age, PSA, and Gleason score. Results: A total of 4,178 biopsies were identified - 2,513 in 2011 and 1,665 in 2014. The percentage of positive biopsies was 27% in 2011 versus 34% in 2014 (p<0.0001). Among patients with positive biopsies, we found statistically significant differences between the 2 cohorts in the median ages and Gleason scores. Patients were about 1 year younger in 2014 compared to 2011 (t-test; p=0.043). High Gleason scores (8-10) were diagnosed in 19% of the 2014 positive biopsies versus 9% in the 2011 positive biopsies (chi square; p<0.0001). Conclusions: After the widespread implementation of the 2011 USPTF PSA screening guidelines, 34% fewer biopsies were performed with a 29% increase in positive biopsy rates. We found a significantly higher incidence of high grade disease in 2014 compared with 2011. The percentage of patients with positive biopsies having Gleason scores 8-10 more than doubled in 2014. The higher incidence of these more aggressive cancers must be part of the discussion regarding PSA screening.

Radical concept nativism.

Radical concept nativism is the thesis that virtually all lexical concepts are innate. Notoriously endorsed by Jerry Fodor, radical concept nativism has had few supporters. However, it has proven difficult to say exactly what's wrong with Fodor's argument. We show that previous responses are inadequate on a number of grounds. Chief among these is that they typically do not achieve sufficient distance from Fodor's dialectic, and, as a result, they do not illuminate the central question of how new primitive concepts are acquired. To achieve a fully satisfactory response to Fodor's argument, one has to juxtapose questions about conceptual content with questions about cognitive development. To this end, we formulate a general schema for thinking about how concepts are acquired and then present a detailed illustration.

Multidisciplinary management of a Jehovah's Witness patient for the removal of a renal cell carcinoma extending into the right atrium.

PURPOSE: To highlight the management of a Jehovah's witness surgical patient presenting for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 47-yr-old male, Jehovah's Witness, with renal cell carcinoma was admitted for left radical nephrectomy and excision of tumour thrombus extending into the junction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium (RA). The preoperative goals were to maximize red blood cell mass, delineate the extent of tumour extension and develop a surgical plan incorporating blood conservation strategies to minimize blood loss. A midline abdominal incision was made to optimize removal of the non-caval portion of the tumour from the intra-abdominal region. CPB and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were instituted to aid in removing the tumour from the IVC and RA. Intraoperative blood conservation strategies included the use of acute normovolemic hemodilution, antifibrinolytics, cell salvage, point-of-care monitoring of heparin and protamine blood concentrations, leukocyte-depleting filter, and meticulous surgical techniques. The patient was successfully weaned from CPB and was transported to the cardiothoracic intensive care unit without complication. The patient was discharged home one week after the operation with a hemoglobin of 10.2 g x dL(-1) and a hematocrit of 31.2%. CONCLUSION: Multiple blood conservation techniques were employed to manage this Jehovah's Witness patient through complex cardiac surgery, which was previously denied to him at other institutions. The successful outcome of this patient, while respecting the right to refuse allogeneic blood products, is a result of a multidisciplinary collaboration as well as the application of established blood conservation techniques.