Activity

Supplementary materials for the online edition are available for download at the URL 101007/s13534-023-00264-0.

The soft and curvilinear brain surface benefits from the high-fidelity interfacing potential of flexible and stretchable neural electrodes. This report details a pliable and extendable neural electrode array, comprising a network of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers reinforcing gold (Au) film electrodes. Stretching the material causes the interwoven PAN nanofibers to effectively terminate crack propagation in the Au film, which in turn facilitates a dynamically stable electrode-tissue interface. In addition, the surface roughness and active surface areas of the gold electrodes are amplified by PAN nanofibers, thereby diminishing electrochemical impedance and improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Subsequently, rat in vivo multichannel recording of epileptiform activities is enabled by PAN nanofiber network-reinforced Au electrode arrays, ensuring reliability.

For additional materials that are part of the online version, refer to 101007/s13534-022-00257-5.

101007/s13534-022-00257-5 provides supplementary material associated with the online version.

In the context of closed-loop electromyography-guided (EMG-guided) controllable transcranial magnetic stimulation (cTMS), this paper proposes an algorithm for the efficient and optimal tuning of pulse amplitude and width, applied to sequential parameter estimation (SPE) of neural membrane time constant and input-output (IO) curve parameters. The proposed SPE methodology involves administering a sequence of optimally tuned transcranial magnetic stimulation pulses, concurrently updating estimations until a pre-defined stopping criterion is satisfied or the maximum pulse count is reached. Pulse amplitude determination is achieved through the process of maximizing Fisher information. The pulse width is established through the maximization of a normalized depolarization factor, thus enabling the disassociation of optimizing pulse amplitude and width. To determine the critical pulse width, a vital parameter for identifiability analysis, the normalized depolarization factor is maximized, dispensing with the necessity of any prior neurophysiological or anatomical information concerning the neural membrane. The suggested algorithm’s effectiveness is tested through simulated environments. The simulation case’s membrane time constant and IO curve parameters’ estimations are validated by the results, which show satisfactory outcomes. Using 52 TMS pulses, the IO curve parameters were calculated based on a convergence criterion that was met five times in a row for each parameter, maintaining a 0.01 tolerance. This produced absolute relative estimation errors (AREs) below 7%. The time constant of the membrane is estimated with an accuracy of 0.67%, and the pulse width approaches the critical value with an accuracy of 0.16% using 52 TMS pulses. Closed-loop EMG-guided cTMS, as confirmed by the results, allows for optimal and automatic adjustments of pulse width and amplitude to estimate the membrane time constant and IO curve parameters in real-time.

Pharmacists situated within the community possess a distinctive capacity to facilitate early recognition of underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD), affecting an estimated 50% of adults in the United States. Organizations utilize community pharmacists, based within the local community, to conduct annual biometric health screenings, thereby assisting employees in identifying previously unknown health risks. The study sought to quantify the effect of community-based pharmacists on lifetime atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk for a large cohort.

This retrospective review assessed annual, 15-minute biometric health screenings performed by pharmacists within a broad regional community pharmacy chain. Employees between twenty and seventy-nine years old who had undergone no less than three biometric health screenings, spanning from July 1st, 2015, to June 30th, 2020, formed the targeted group. Biometric health screening records that were not fully completed were excluded from the dataset. Analysis of study participants’ prescription fill history aided in the calculation of lifetime ASCVD risk and the identification of potential care gaps. Pharmacists, though not engaging in clinical interventions, nevertheless imparted education derived from the collected information.

A total of ten thousand and one patients were incorporated into the study. Baseline ASCVD risk, at a median of 15%, elevated to 18% (p < 0.001), highlighting a substantial increment. Furthermore, 1187 patients exhibiting a 75% elevated risk of ASCVD demonstrated statistically significant enhancements in blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol levels.

Several biometric health screening parameters, including blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol, showed improvements for high-risk patients. Community-based pharmacists were in a strong position to provide clinical support, consequently contributing to lowering the lifetime risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Positive trends were observed in blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol – vital biometric health screening parameters – in high-risk patients. Pharmacists, rooted in the community, were ideally situated to offer direct clinical support, thereby potentially diminishing the lifetime risk of ASCVD.

Ensuring reproductive justice within a diverse population requires evidence-based, non-biased counseling about contraceptive choices, which must be followed by shared decision-making. Demand for fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) as a contraceptive option in the United States is increasing, and currently, an estimated 3% of users employ them. Family planning using FABMs is most successful when coupled with evidence-based protocols and guidelines. Medical limitations concerning hormonal contraceptives, the lack of adverse effects, religious convictions, a preference to avoid hormones or contraceptive devices, enhanced awareness of the body, or a combination of these considerations make these options preferred by some patients. FABMs, a topic seldom covered in medical school, are frequently viewed by physicians as being less effective than other treatments. There is a chance to cultivate a deeper understanding of FABMs among physicians through evidence-based knowledge, potentially resulting in a better understanding of and improved access to all family planning alternatives for patients.

A self-administered, cross-sectional survey was employed to assess physicians’ views and knowledge of FABMs, distributed to key university contacts. Univariate and bivariate statistical procedures were employed to analyze the data from closed-ended questions, and responses to open-ended questions were scrutinized for recurrent themes.

The entire survey was completed by a total of 79 participants. Eleven submitted surveys were found to be incomplete. Regarding completed surveys, the knowledge of foundational concepts for FABMs, broken down by specialty, showed OB/GYN (n = 16) at 55% accuracy, family medicine (n = 47) at 55% accuracy, internal medicine (n = 10) at 36% accuracy, and pediatrics (n = 6) at 35% accuracy. Opinions about FABMs included representations of negative, neutral, mixed, and positive sentiments.

By bolstering physicians’ evidence-based understanding of FABMs, a more patient-centered approach to contraceptive care might be achieved.

There is potential for physicians to gain a deeper understanding of the evidence relating to FABMs, resulting in more patient-centered contraceptive care practices.

The prevalence of physician burnout is frequently reported as being higher among women practitioners compared to their male counterparts. Regardless of the absence of gender-based disparities in prevalence, potential risk factors, including work-life balance challenges and gender-based biases, are likely to differ significantly. Previous iterations of the yearly resident wellness survey at a single urban academic medical center consistently revealed that female residents experienced higher burnout rates, particularly during their second postgraduate year.

PGY-3 women residents from a multitude of medical specialties participated in a succession of focus groups orchestrated at a single urban academic medical center in 2019. cortisolagonist Maintaining the privacy of participants, especially with the numerous attendees, led to not gathering demographic data. Based on a review of the literature, the moderator for every group utilized a discussion guide featuring eight open-ended queries.

Ten residents, eager to participate, selected one of four hour-long focus group sessions. Despite identifying some obstacles that affected all, residents also articulated issues confronting them as women in medicine, such as the heightened pressure to prove themselves and the unconscious gender bias stemming from both professors and patients. Based on residents’ perspectives, training programs that more effectively addressed the experiences and requirements of female residents would lead to improvements in their well-being, suggesting actions like enhanced mentoring and networking opportunities.

Incorporating a gender-sensitive approach is crucial for designing effective interventions to improve well-being. In order to help all residents, mentoring and networking opportunities are crucial, and particularly so for women, who should find these opportunities integral components of any plan designed to bolster diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.

Gender-specific considerations are essential for creating successful well-being improvement programs. Mentoring and networking opportunities, while beneficial for all residents, are particularly valuable for women and should be integrated into a comprehensive strategy to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, characteristic of many sports, often demand extensive post-operative physical therapy and rehabilitation. The study surveyed AOSSM members to determine the return-to-sport (RTS) standards they employed following primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

23 questions featured in an anonymous survey, hosted by Google.

The electronic format was used for distributing Docs to AOSSM members.