Reactions to a Nicotine Reduction Policy Among Adolescents Who Smoke: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: The Biden administration is pursuing a nicotine reduction policy in the United States to render cigarettes less addictive. In this study, we qualitatively investigated adolescents' subjective responses to very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes, reasons for incomplete adherence to using them, and their expected responses to a nicotine reduction policy.

Aims And Methods: Adolescents who smoke cigarettes daily (ages 15-19; N = 60) were enrolled in a 3-week double-blind randomized clinical trial and assigned to smoke either normal nicotine content or VLNC research cigarettes.

Online Machine Learning Audiometry.

Objectives: A confluence of recent developments in cloud computing, real-time web audio and machine learning psychometric function estimation has made wide dissemination of sophisticated turn-key audiometric assessments possible. The authors have combined these capabilities into an online (i.e.

Conjoint psychometric field estimation for bilateral audiometry.

Behavioral testing in perceptual or cognitive domains requires querying a subject multiple times in order to quantify his or her ability in the corresponding domain. These queries must be conducted sequentially, and any additional testing domains are also typically tested sequentially, such as with distinct tests comprising a test battery. As a result, existing behavioral tests are often lengthy and do not offer comprehensive evaluation.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. What are the benefits, what are the risks?

One way to nutritionally support patients who cannot swallow is to administer formula directly into the stomach. Placing a gastrostomy tube percutaneously using endoscopy avoids the risks of general anesthesia and wound healing that accompany surgical gastrostomy. Although certain conditions (eg, sepsis, coagulation disorder, portal hypertension) are contraindications to the procedure, it can be done in patients who have had previous abdominal surgery and in those with severe illness.