Intra-peritoneal Povidone-iodine Irrigation Decreases Abscesses in a Perforated Appendicitis Murine Model.

Background: Children with perforated appendicitis frequently form post-operative intra-abdominal abscesses (IAA). Intra-peritoneal irrigation for prevention remains controversial. Using a perforated appendicitis murine model, we sought to determine the effect of intra-peritoneal irrigation on post-operative IAA and adhesion formation.

Pediatric gastrostomy tube referral patterns and postoperative use: A single-center experience.

Objectives: Practice variability exists regarding the timing of gastrostomy tube (GT) placement in patients unable to maintain adequate oral nutrition. We sought to assess patient factors predictive of longer surgical GT use to inform patient selection.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study including children ≤18 years who underwent surgical GT placement from June 1, 2018 to June 1, 2021 at a children's hospital.

Determining Emergency Severity Index Acuity: Key Triage Elements Identified by Emergency Nurses.

Introduction: The conflation of mandated screening question data collection with patient assessment at the initial triage encounter challenges the ability of the emergency nurse to identify patients at risk for deterioration rapidly and accurately. Further, inexperienced triage nurses are generally challenged in differentiating between questions that establish stability and questions that meet other requirements. The aims of the study included exploration of how triage nurses identified critical data elements to facilitate more rapid and accurate patient triage and Emergency Severity Index acuity assignment, perceptions of appropriate location of assessment elements, and identifying common triage processes.

Influence of vibration duration on the quality of boar semen doses packed in bags or tubes.

As previous data showing the negative impact of semen agitation during transport on sperm quality was obtained only in tube-type packages, this study aimed to compare two packages for boar semen dose (bag or tube) submitted to different agitation times. Ejaculates from thirty different boars were diluted in BTS extender, packed in bags or tubes in split sample, and submitted to agitation for 0, 6, or 12 h at 100 rpm at 17 ºC. Semen doses were stored for up to 168 h and evaluated for quality traits.

Act on a mandate to protect research subjects' privacy.

Congress called for the protection of data from legal process.

A deep learning approach for automated scoring of the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure.

Memory deficits are a hallmark of many different neurological and psychiatric conditions. The Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) is the state-of-the-art assessment tool for neuropsychologists across the globe to assess the degree of non-verbal visual memory deterioration. To obtain a score, a trained clinician inspects a patient's ROCF drawing and quantifies deviations from the original figure.

A scheduling perspective on modular educational systems in Europe.

In modular educational systems, students are allowed to choose a part of their curriculum themselves. The rationale behind letting students choose their courses themselves is to enhance self-responsibility, improve student motivation, and allow for focus on specific areas of interest. A central instrument for bringing these systems to fruition is the timetable.

On the Non-Catalytic Role of Lytic Polysaccharide Monooxygenases in Boosting the Action of PETases on PET Polymers.

Synthetic polymers are resistant to biological attack, resulting in their long-term accumulation in landfills and in natural aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are enzymes which oxidatively cleave the polysaccharide chains in recalcitrant polysaccharides such as cellulose. It has been widely hypothesised that LPMOs could be used to aid in the enzymatic breakdown of synthetic polymers.

Intermolecular interaction potential maps from energy decomposition for interpreting reactivity and intermolecular interactions.

The electrostatic potential (ESP) has been widely used to visualize electrostatic interactions about a molecule. However, electrostatic effects are often insufficient for capturing the entirety of an interaction or a reaction of interest. In this investigation, intermolecular interaction potential maps (IMIPs), constructed from the potentials derived from energy decomposition analysis (EDA) using density functional theory, were developed and applied to provide unique insight into molecular interactions and reactivity.

INTRODUCTION Defining Health Law for the Future: A Tribute to Charity Scott.

This special edition of celebrates the life of Charity Scott, Professor Emerita and Founding Director of the Center for Law, Health & Society at Georgia State University College of Law.

Establishing Triage Competencies and Verification Processes: A Survey Study.

Introduction: Although the ED triage function is a critical means of ensuring patient safety, core competencies for ED triage are not well defined in the literature. The purpose of the study was to identify and validate emergency triage nursing competencies and to develop a competency verification process.

Methods: A sample of 1181 emergency nurses evenly divided between roles with oversight of triage training and competency assessment (manager-level and staff nurses performing triage) completed an online survey evaluating competency elements that comprised the following in terms of frequency and importance, training modalities, and evaluation methods: expert assessment, clinical judgment, management of medical resources, communication, and timely decisions.

Patient Factors Associated with Access to Outpatient Pediatric General Surgical Care in a Rural State.

Background: We sought to understand factors impacting timely access to outpatient pediatric general surgical care in a largely rural state.

Methods: We conducted a multi-site retrospective cohort study, evaluating patients <18 years referred for outpatient pediatric general surgical evaluation from 11/1/2017-7/31/2022. Outcomes included obtaining an appointment, completing an appointment, and undergoing an operation.

Validation of Emergency Nurse Practitioner Competencies: Patient Complexity and Clinical Decision Making.

Introduction: Over the past 15 years, the emergency nurse practitioner has been recognized as a nursing specialty role with dedicated scope and standards of practice. However, a paucity of objective data exists to validate the actual practice of emergency nurse practitioners in the emergency care setting. The purpose of this pilot study was to describe the initial acuity of patients assigned to emergency nurse practitioners, actions, decisional complexity, and disposition decisions of advanced practice nurses as they function in emergency departments in a single system.

Resolving the metabolism of monolignols and other lignin-related aromatic compounds in Xanthomonas citri.

Lignin, a major plant cell wall component, has an important role in plant-defense mechanisms against pathogens and is a promising renewable carbon source to produce bio-based chemicals. However, our understanding of microbial metabolism is incomplete regarding certain lignin-related compounds like p-coumaryl and sinapyl alcohols. Here, we reveal peripheral pathways for the catabolism of the three main lignin precursors (p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl alcohols) in the plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri.

CASCADE: Dataset of extant coccolithophore size, carbon content and global distribution.

Coccolithophores are marine calcifying phytoplankton important to the carbon cycle and a model organism for studying diversity. Here, we present CASCADE (Coccolithophore Abundance, Size, Carbon And Distribution Estimates), a new global dataset for 139 extant coccolithophore taxonomic units. CASCADE includes a trait database (size and cellular organic and inorganic carbon contents) and taxonomic-unit-specific global spatiotemporal distributions (Latitude/Longitude/Depth/Month/Year) of coccolithophore abundance and organic and inorganic carbon stocks.

The New Era of Three-Dimensional Annuloplasty Devices for Mitral Valve Repair: Rationale and First Experiences.

Annuloplasty should always accompany mitral valve repair in order to achieve proper annular remodeling and stabilization. Numerous types of annuloplasty rings-that differ from rigid to semi-rigid and flexible devices, from complete to partial, and from flat to saddle-shaped rings-are clinically available. A deeper understanding of mitral valve function, in conjunction with several recent studies, suggest it is advisable to prefer annuloplasty rings that mimic the physiological mitral annulus shape and three-dimensional (3D) dynamic changes in order to reduce haemodynamic stress on valve components and optimize leaflet coaptation, perhaps improving valve repair durability too.

Reproducibility and across-site transferability of an improved deep learning approach for aneurysm detection and segmentation in time-of-flight MR-angiograms.

This study aimed to (1) replicate a deep-learning-based model for cerebral aneurysm segmentation in TOF-MRAs, (2) improve the approach by testing various fully automatic pre-processing pipelines, and (3) rigorously validate the model's transferability on independent, external test-datasets. A convolutional neural network was trained on 235 TOF-MRAs acquired on local scanners from a single vendor to segment intracranial aneurysms. Different pre-processing pipelines including bias field correction, resampling, cropping and intensity-normalization were compared regarding their effect on model performance.

AMP-dependent kinase stimulates the expression of αKlotho.

Renal αKlotho along with fibroblast growth factor 23 regulates phosphate and vitamin D metabolism. Its cleavage yields soluble Klotho controlling intracellular processes. αKlotho has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and is nephro- and cardioprotective.