Creating Art Using Generative Adversarial Networks

I set out to explore how artificial intelligence generated artwork compares to human created artwork. Using CycleGANs, my goal was to create art, and then conduct a Turing Test in order to determine whether or not one could distinguish between A.I. and human art. Using this test, as well as my own observations, I planned to analyze where CycleGANs succeeds in creating art, as well as where it struggles. Following this analysis, I thought more about what the results mean for art moving forward, and if artificial intelligence can truly create art

In search of work/life balance: trainee perspectives on part-time obstetrics and gynaecology specialist training

BACKGROUND: Part-time training (PTT) is accessed by approximately 10% of Australian obstetrics and gynaecology trainees, a small but increasing minority which reflects the growing demand for improved work/life balance amongst the Australian medical workforce. This survey reports the attitudes and experiences of both full-time and part-time trainees to PTT. METHODS: An email-based anonymous survey was sent to all Australian obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in April 2009, collecting demographic and training status data, data on personal experiences of PTT and/or trainees, and attitudes towards PTT. RESULTS: 105 responses were received (20% response rate). These indicated strong support (90%) from both full-time (FT) and part-time (PT) trainees for the availability of PTT. PT trainees were significantly more likely than FT trainees to be female with children. Improved morale was seen as a particular advantage of PTT; decreased continuity of care as a disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Although limited by poor response rate, both PT and FT Australian obstetric trainees were supportive of part-time training. Both groups recognised important advantages and disadvantages of this mode of training. Currently, part-time training is accessed primarily by female trainees with family responsibilities, with many more trainees considering part-time training than the number that access it

A systematic review of biological changes in surgeons’ acute stress levels during surgery

Background: While a degree of stress facilitates learning and task performance, excessive stress in surgeons may lead to poor patient outcomes, with maladaptive stress as a risk factor for surgeon burnout or self-harm through mechanisms including substance abuse, and suicide. We aim to systematically review publications investigating how measures of surgeons’ acute biological stress change during surgery. Methods: Medline, Embase, Cochrane library, and The United States, Australian, and European clinical trials registries were searched using the terms stress; surgeon; cortisol; skin conductance; and heart rate. Studies had to report at least one measure of biological stress related to surgery or simulated surgical exercise and have been published between January 1996 to June 2022. Results: Twenty-eight studies with a total of 433 participants met inclusion criteria with cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability, and electrodermal activity being reported. Salivary cortisol was measured in four studies with conflicting directional changes reported. Mean heart rate increased in nine studies (by 6-22 beats/minute), however the impact of the physical work of surgery was not reported. Heart rate variability, as measured by low-frequency to high-frequency ratio, was significantly increased in three of six studies. One study measured electrodermal activity reporting significant increase in skin conductance in a simulation setting. Conclusion: While some biological measures appear able to detect changes in acute stress in surgeons (particularly heart rate), appropriate measures of stress during non-stressful and stressful surgery are yet to be fully identified. Importantly, there are no current pathways for identifying surgeons at risk of burnout or self-harm and this is a critical unmet research need

Surgeon reported measures of stress and anxiety prior to and after elective gynecological surgery

Introduction: Performing surgical procedures is a recognized source of stress for surgeons. Vocational stress is an important contributor to performance, patient care, and burnout with dispositional and environmental factors contributing. Accurately assessing surgeon stress is critical to measuring effectiveness of stress reduction programs. The primary aim was to identify differences between surgeons' self-reported anticipated stress and anxiety prior to gynecological surgery, compared with their recollection of experienced stress and anxiety during surgery. Secondary aims assessed any differences by level of training, surgical type, and surgeon role. Material and methods: Attending and resident gynecologists performing routine elective surgeries completed a visual analog scale (VAS) assessing perceived stress and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) prior to and immediately after completing 161 elective surgeries including total laparoscopic hysterectomy, laparoscopic excision of moderate–severe endometriosis, or hysteroscopic myomectomy. Results: Eight attending gynecologists and nine residents participated. Residents commenced as primary surgeon in 62/90 (69%) procedures. Stress experienced during surgery was greater than anticipated in 92/161 (57%) surgery episodes (mean VAS increase: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.1–6.8, p = 0.009). State anxiety was greater than anticipated in 99/161 (62%) episodes (mean state anxiety increase: 4.4; 95% CI: 3.0–5.8, p < 0.001). Greater preprocedural anticipatory stress and anxiety was observed in residents vs. attending gynecologists (VAS 51.9 vs. 22.8, p < 0.001; state anxiety 38.3 vs. 28.1, p < 0.001) and in primary vs. assistant surgeons (VAS 47.2 vs. 29.9, p < 0.001; state anxiety 36.9 vs. 28.3, p < 0.001). Intraoperative stress and anxiety were greater in primary surgeons (VAS 50.4 vs. 30.5, p < 0.001; anxiety 41.3 vs. 32.5, p < 0.001) and residents (VAS 43.4 vs. 31.7, p < 0.001; anxiety 53.5 vs. 33.7, p < 0.001) compared with assistants and attending gynecologists. Perceived stress and anxiety were positively correlated at both timepoints (r = 0.68, p < 0.001; r = 0.82, p < 0.001). Conclusions: When asked to reflect on stress experienced during surgery, our data show that stress during surgery is greater than anticipated for many surgical episodes. Self-reported stress symptoms commence prior to surgery and are more commonly reported by surgeons operating as primary surgeon and by those in training. Future research should focus on determinants of presurgical stress and examine when stressors become inhibitory to performance

Collage Concert

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents the 3rd annual Collage Concert.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1592/thumbnail.jp

Validation of the Italian version of the cystic fibrosis quality of life questionnaire (CFQoL), a disease specific measure for adults and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Background Disease specific, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measurement is important in cystic fibrosis (CF). This work aimed to translate the original English Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (CFQoL) into Italian, evaluate the linguistic translation and to psychometrically evaluate the Italian version of the CFQoL. Methods The linguistic translation followed the international guidelines of forward and backward translation. Psychometric evaluation of the Italian CFQoL involved the assessment of construct validity, internal reliability, concurrent validity, known groups validity and test–retest reliability. Results The instrument was acceptable to adolescents and adults with CF and demonstrated robust psychometric properties. Principle components analysis indicated that the factorial structure was essentially similar to the original, and the internal reliability of each domain was good (Cronbach alpha coefficients 0.73 to 0.91). Appropriate domains of the CFQoL and SF-36 correlated well indicating good concurrent validity (r=0.68–0.80). Consistent with theoretical expectations some domains were able to discriminate between disease severity groups. Test–retest reliability, assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients, was found to be excellent (ICC 0.83 to 0.98). Conclusions The Italian CFQoL is a valid and reliable measure. Its use in individual patient monitoring and research should complement traditional clinical outcome measures

The Ratio of W + N jets To Z/gamma + N jets As a Precision Test of the Standard Model

We suggest replacing measurements of the individual cross-sections for the production of W + N jets and Z/gamma + N jets in searches for new high-energy phenomena at hadron colliders by the precision measurement of the ratios (W+0 jet)/(Z+0 jet), (W+1 jet)/(Z+1 jet), (W+2 jets)/(Z+2 jets),... (W+N jets)/(Z+N jets), with N as large as 6 (the number of jets in ttbarH). These ratios can also be formed for the case where one or more of the jets is tagged as a b or c quark. Existing measurements of the individual cross sections for Wenu + N jets at the Tevatron have systematic uncertainties that grow rapidly with N, being dominated by uncertainties in the identification of jets and the jet energy scale. These systematics, and also those associated with the luminosity, parton distribution functions (PDF's), detector acceptance and efficiencies, and systematics of jet finding and b-tagging, are expected to substantially cancel in calculating the ratio of W to Z production in each N-jet channel, allowing a greater sensitivity to new contributions in these channels in Run II at the Tevatron and at the LHC.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, added reference

Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults.

The principal objective of this review is to evaluate the effects of systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults by comparing participant reported measures of pain and swelling or clinician reported measures of infection or both