Psychometric evaluation and item response theory analysis of the COVID Stress Scales in an older adult population.

Objectives: The COVID Stress Scales (CSS) represent a widely used self-report measure of stress and anxiety-related responses to COVID-19. Although the CSS have been validated across various nations and languages, their psychometric properties have not been assessed at the factor- or item-level with older adults. We aimed to psychometrically evaluate the CSS in older adults.

Assimilation of Remotely Sensed Leaf Area Index Enhances the Estimation of Anthropogenic Irrigation Water Use.

Representation of irrigation in Earth System Models has advanced over the past decade, yet large uncertainties persist in the effective simulation of irrigation practices, particularly over locations where the on-ground practices and climate impacts are less reliably known. Here we investigate the utility of assimilating remotely sensed vegetation data for improving irrigation water use and associated fluxes within a land surface model. We show that assimilating optical sensor-based leaf area index estimates significantly improves the simulation of irrigation water use when compared to the USGS ground reports.

Minimally invasive tubular laminectomies in multilevel spine surgery-an illustrative case-based review of techniques and combined approaches.

Minimally invasive techniques have become part of the spine surgeons' armamentarium and are currently utilized to treat many conditions involving the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine. Surgical treatment of severe degenerative conditions such as multilevel spinal stenosis, tandem stenosis, combination of stenosis or disk herniation and spondylolisthesis at adjacent spinal levels, as well as extensive infections or hematomas, may require a multilevel tailored approach with all the challenges that such surgical planning entails. Although the use of minimally invasive tubular decompressive procedures has gained widespread popularity in the recent years, the adoption of such techniques during multilevel spine surgery can be at times challenging.

COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on dental students: A multi-institutional survey.

Purpose/objectives: To investigate dental students' perceptions and concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, their coping strategies and support resources, and their perceived stress levels.

Methods: A customized 19-item survey and the perceived stress scale (PSS) were applied to undergraduate dental students from the US, Spain, Ireland, Chile, India, and Brazil between April 10 and July 5, 2020. Linear modeling and mediation analysis were used to explore the relationships among demographics, stressors, coping mechanisms, social support, and stress RESULTS: A total of 4475 students responded to the survey.

Direct Pars Defect Tubular Decompression and TLIF for the Treatment of Low-Grade Adult Isthmic Spondylolisthesis: Surgical Challenges and Nuances of a Muscle-Sparing Minimally Invasive Approach.

We present an illustrative report on the use of a minimally invasive, muscle-sparing, direct pars defect decompression with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and instrumentation for the treatment of low-grade adult isthmic spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis and discuss the surgical challenges and nuances associated with the technique.

NCA-LDAS: Overview and Analysis of Hydrologic Trends for the National Climate Assessment.

Terrestrial hydrologic trends over the conterminous United States are estimated for 1980-2015 using the National Climate Assessment Land Data Assimilation System (NCA-LDAS) reanalysis. NCA-LDAS employs the uncoupled Noah version 3.3 land surface model at 0.

GRACE improves seasonal groundwater forecast initialization over the U.S.

We evaluate the impact of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment data assimilation (GRACE-DA) on seasonal hydrological forecast initialization over the U.S., focusing on groundwater storage.

Lumbar cystic epidural lipomatosis with mass effect. Report of an unusual case.

We present a rare case of symptomatic cystic lumbar spinal epidural lipomatosis that required surgical treatment via a minimally invasive tubular laminectomy. To our knowledge this is the first pathology confirmed report of compressive cystic lumbar spinal epidural lipomatosis available in literature.

Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression and Removal of Symptomatic Heterotopic Bone Formation After Spinal Fusion with Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2.

We present a case of symptomatic heterotopic bone formation following revision of posterolateral lumbar fusion/instrumentation and "off-label" use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2, treated successfully with the use of a minimally invasive tubular approach.

Outcomes of a Spinal Drain and Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring Protocol in Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

Background: Adjuncts for early detection and treatment of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) in thoracic aortic surgery are supported by robust clinical experience in open repair. The utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage and neurophysiologic monitoring (NPM) in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is less clear. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the influence of a selective institutional spinal cord protection protocol using prophylactic NPM and CSF on outcomes for standard TEVAR.

Upper Blue Nile Basin Water Budget from a Multi-Model Perspective.

Improved understanding of the water balance in the Blue Nile is of critical importance because of increasingly frequent hydroclimatic extremes under a changing climate. The intercomparison and evaluation of multiple land surface models (LSMs) associated with different meteorological forcing and precipitation datasets can offer a moderate range of water budget variable estimates. In this context, two LSMs, Noah version 3.

A land data assimilation system for sub-Saharan Africa food and water security applications.

Seasonal agricultural drought monitoring systems, which rely on satellite remote sensing and land surface models (LSMs), are important for disaster risk reduction and famine early warning. These systems require the best available weather inputs, as well as a long-term historical record to contextualize current observations. This article introduces the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Land Data Assimilation System (FLDAS), a custom instance of the NASA Land Information System (LIS) framework.

Evaluating ESA CCI soil moisture in East Africa.

To assess growing season conditions where ground based observations are limited or unavailable, food security and agricultural drought monitoring analysts rely on publicly available remotely sensed rainfall and vegetation greenness. There are also remotely sensed soil moisture observations from missions like the European Space Agency (ESA) Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) and NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), however these time series are still too short to conduct studies that demonstrate the utility of these data for operational applications, or to provide historical context for extreme wet or dry events. To promote the use of remotely sensed soil moisture in agricultural drought and food security monitoring, we use East Africa as a case study to evaluate the quality of a 30+ year time series of merged active-passive microwave soil moisture from the ESA Climate Change Initiative (CCI-SM).

The Use of a "Double-Triple Barrel" Technique during Minimally Invasive Multilevel Tubular Laminectomy. A Technical Note.

This report presents a modified use of multiple tubular retractors (that limits issues related to the sequential redocking of tubular systems) that may prove helpful in cases where a minimally invasive approach is utilized for the treatment of multilevel lumbar stenosis.

Interventions for preventing post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing heart surgery.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is a common post-operative complication of cardiac surgery and is associated with an increased risk of post-operative stroke, increased length of intensive care unit and hospital stays, healthcare costs and mortality. Numerous trials have evaluated various pharmacological and non-pharmacological prophylactic interventions for their efficacy in preventing post-operative atrial fibrillation. We conducted an update to a 2004 Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of these interventions.

Assessing and improving the health-related quality of life of patients with ESRD.

Impairment of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is now well documented. These impairments involve a wide variety of domains and can be assessed using an array of well-validated instruments. Incorporation of at least some of these instruments into routine patient care is important in order to measure the physical and psychological impact of a disease and its treatment on the HRQOL of patients.

Subtle differences in commercial heparins can have serious consequences for cardiopulmonary bypass patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the potency, reversibility, and perioperative bleeding risk of Hepalean with those of PPC heparin.

Methods: Because in vitro testing failed to detect differences in the potency or protamine reversibility of the 2 heparin preparations, we conducted a parallel group, single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to compare the anticoagulant effects of Hepalean to those of PPC heparin in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Results: From June 1, 2011, to June 30, 2011, we randomly assigned 11 patients to receive PPC heparin and 10 to receive Hepalean.

Direct thrombin inhibitors in cardiovascular disease.

Limitations of commonly used anticoagulants, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and oral vitamin K antagonists have prompted the development of alternative therapies. Direct thrombin inhibitors are a new class of anticoagulants that bind directly to thrombin and inhibit its interaction with substrates. In this Review, we critically examine the evidence from randomized controlled trials for the efficacy and safety of the parenteral direct thrombin inhibitors bivalirudin and argatroban, and the novel oral direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate, in cardiovascular and thrombotic disease.

The use of transcutaneous oximetry to predict healing complications of lower limb amputations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine the validity of transcutaneous oximetry (TcPO(2)) as a predictor of lower limb amputation healing complications.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched five major medical databases, relevant review articles and reference lists and included all studies that evaluated TcPO(2) for its ability to predict lower limb amputation healing failure.

The use of transcutaneous oximetry to predict complications of chronic wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Transcutaneous oximetry (P(tc) O(2) ) has been proposed as a method to predict nonhealing of chronic wounds and the occurrence of healing complications. However, the validity of this method as an independent predictor and an optimal threshold value for this tool are poorly defined. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to address these questions, searching five major medical databases, relevant review articles, and reference lists.

NASA-modified precipitation products to improve USEPA nonpoint source water quality modeling for the Chesapeake Bay.

The USEPA has estimated that over 20,000 water bodies within the United States do not meet water quality standards. One of the regulations in the Clean Water Act of 1972 requires states to monitor the total maximum daily load, or the amount of pollution that can be carried by a water body before it is determined to be "polluted," for any watershed in the United States (Copeland, 2005). In response to this mandate, the USEPA developed Better Assessment Science Integrating Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) as a decision support tool for assessing pollution and to guide the decision-making process for improving water quality.

Evidence-based classification of complications in total ankle arthroplasty.

Background: Total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has become a viable treatment for end-stage ankle arthrosis. Current literature on survival rates and complications of TAA consist of mostly retrospective Level IV papers that do not provide a system for classifying complications. The aim of the current review is to provide a summary of TAA implant survival and complication rates from current literature on outcomes of second or third generation ankle prostheses and subsequently propose a classification system.

Deafferentation-induced regulation of AMPA receptors in the spinal cord of the adult rat.

Glutamate released from primary afferents is thought to be involved in mediating spinal reflexes, nociception, and the development and consequent maintenance of hyperalgesia. The role of glutamate is dependent on the distribution and regulation of glutamate receptors in the spinal cord. Due to the numerous glutamate receptor subtypes and their differential physiological profiles, the system is quite complex.