The Implications of Substance Abuse Among Dental Professionals

According to literature, the rate of drug abuse and addiction is higher in dental providers than in the general population. This is because dental providers have greater access to prescription drugs as well as occupational stresses that put these individuals at risk. The stresses of education, work, patient’s needs, finances, and economic burdens can lead to self-neglect and heightened chances of drug use among dental professionals. Hence, these individuals are at a greater risk of developing a substance abuse problem. Dental professionals that abuse substances while working violate many legal, ethical, and clinical standards amended by the ADA and the Texas State Board. Under the Hippocratic Oath, it is the healthcare provider’s duty to treat patients to the best of their ability and not endanger themselves with any substances that could lead to malpractice within the office. Any report of substance abuse within the health community will be referred to the state board of dentistry or other authorities where they may suspend or revoke their license. There are many strategies that may aid dental health professionals in their recovery from substance abuse. Many times, states offer a diversion program that allows dental health professionals to recover from their addiction without losing their license. These programs have high recovery rates among dental professionals. Overall, further research should be done on the topic of substance abuse within the professional dental community since this issue could lead to the possibility of patient endangerment if those affected by abuse are not helped

Tiny scale opacity fluctuations from VLBA, MERLIN and VLA observations of HI absorption toward 3C 138

The structure function of opacity fluctuations is a useful statistical tool to study tiny scale structures of neutral hydrogen. Here we present high resolution observation of HI absorption towards 3C 138, and estimate the structure function of opacity fluctuations from the combined VLA, MERLIN and VLBA data. The angular scales probed in this work are ~ 10-200 milliarcsec (about 5-100 AU). The structure function in this range is found to be well represented by a power law S_tau(x) ~ x^{beta} with index beta ~ 0.33 +/- 0.07 corresponding to a power spectrum P_tau(U) ~ U^{-2.33}. This is slightly shallower than the earlier reported power law index of ~ 2.5-3.0 at ~ 1000 AU to few pc scales. The amplitude of the derived structure function is a factor of ~ 20-60 times higher than the extrapolated amplitude from observation of Cas A at larger scales. On the other hand, extrapolating the AU scale structure function for 3C 138 predicts the observed structure function for Cas A at the pc scale correctly. These results clearly establish that the atomic gas has significantly more structures in AU scales than expected from earlier pc scale observations. Some plausible reasons are identified and discussed here to explain these results. The observational evidence of a shallower slope and the presence of rich small scale structures may have implications for the current understanding of the interstellar turbulence.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. The definitive version will be available at http://iopscience.iop.org

Social Connectedness in Different Relationship Contexts

While an overwhelming majority of teens still spend time with their friends in person at least occasionally, people have become increasingly reliant on technology for communication and maintaining feelings of social connectedness. Social connectedness is a sense of belonging to an individual or group characterized by satisfaction, perceived level of support, and opportunities for self-disclosure within a particular relationship context. There is consistent evidence that online communication does not foster the same degree of closeness as offline interactions, largely due to the lack of indirect forms of communication like non-verbal cues and tone of voice (Scott et al., 2022a). Offline relationships encourage deeper self-disclosure and allow both parties to utilize indirect forms of communication like non-verbal cues to better communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas (Scott et al., 2022a). However, there is also evidence that paired online and offline communication can facilitate even stronger relationships than one centered around one relationship context (Winstone et al., 2021). In this study, we will be surveying approximately 60 students enrolled in one of the Fall 2022 sections of Belmont University’s PSY1200 Introduction to Psychological Science course. Participants will complete the Inclusion of Others in the Self Scale (IOS) Scale to assess feelings of closeness and connection to friends in three different relationship contexts: online, in-person, and mixed-mode (both online and in-person) (Aron, et al., 1992). We hypothesize that participants will feel the highest level of connectedness in their mixed-mode platonic relationship. We are currently collecting data and results will be presented at SURS

PRMT5 regulates epigenetic changes in suppressive TH1-like iTregs in response to IL-12 treatment

Background: Induced regulatory T cells (iTregs) are a heterogeneous population of immunosuppressive T cells with therapeutic potential. Treg cells show a range of plasticity and can acquire T effector-like capacities, as is the case for T helper 1 (Th1)-like iTregs. Thus, it is important to distinguish between functional plasticity and lineage instability. Aplastic anemia (AA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by immune-mediated destruction of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the bone marrow (BM). Th1-like 1 iTregs can be potent suppressors of aberrant Th1-mediated immune responses such as those that drive AA disease progression. Here we investigated the function of the epigenetic enzyme, protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), its regulation of the iTreg-destabilizing deacetylase, sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) in suppressive Th1-like iTregs, and the potential for administering Th1-like iTregs as a cell-based therapy for AA. Methods: We generated Th1-like iTregs by culturing iTregs with IL-12, then assessed their suppressive capacity, expression of iTreg suppression markers, and enzymatic activity of PRMT5 using histone symmetric arginine di-methylation (H3R2me2s) as a read out. We used ChIP sequencing on Th1 cells, iTregs, and Th1-like iTregs to identify H3R2me2s-bound genes unique to Th1-like iTregs, then validated targets using CHiP-qPCR. We knocked down PRMT5 to validate its contribution to Th1-like iTreg lineage commitment. Finally we tested the therapeutic potential of Th1-like iTregs using a Th1-mediated mouse model of AA. Results: Exposing iTregs to the Th1 cytokine, interleukin-12 (IL-12), during early events of differentiation conveyed increased suppressive function. We observed increased PRMT5 enzymatic activity, as measured by H3R2me2s, in Th1-like iTregs, which was downregulated in iTregs. Using ChIP-sequencing we discovered that H3R2me2s is abundantly bound to the Sirt1 promoter region in Th1-like iTregs to negatively regulate its expression. Furthermore, administering Th1-like iTregs to AA mice provided a survival benefit. Conclusions: Knocking down PRMT5 in Th1-like iTregs concomitantly reduced their suppressive capacity, supporting the notion that PRMT5 is important for the superior suppressive capacity and stability of Th1-like iTregs. Conclusively, therapeutic administration of Th1-like iTregs in a mouse model of AA significantly extended their survival and they may have therapeutic potential

Can a charged ring levitate a neutral, polarizable object? Can Earnshaw's Theorem be extended to such objects?

Stable electrostatic levitation and trapping of a neutral, polarizable object by a charged ring is shown to be theoretically impossible. Earnshaw's Theorem precludes the existence of such a stable, neutral particle trap.Comment: 11 pages, 1 figur

Standard for Informed Consent Determined by Disclosure Which Would Influence a Reasonable Patient to Consent Rather Than What a Physician of the Same of Similar Community Would Have Disclosed Under Similar Circumstances.

Abstract Forthcoming

Simultaneous Multi-band Radio & X-ray Observations of the Galactic Center Magnetar SGR 1745−-2900

We report on multi-frequency, wideband radio observations of the Galactic Center magnetar (SGR 1745$-$2900) with the Green Bank Telescope for $\sim$100 days immediately following its initial X-ray outburst in April 2013. We made multiple simultaneous observations at 1.5, 2.0, and 8.9 GHz, allowing us to examine the magnetar's flux evolution, radio spectrum, and interstellar medium parameters (such as the dispersion measure (DM), the scattering timescale and its index). During two epochs, we have simultaneous observations from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which permitted the absolute alignment of the radio and X-ray profiles. As with the two other radio magnetars with published alignments, the radio profile lies within the broad peak of the X-ray profile, preceding the X-ray profile maximum by $\sim$0.2 rotations. We also find that the radio spectral index $\gamma$ is significantly negative between $\sim$2 and 9 GHz; during the final $\sim$30 days of our observations $\gamma \sim -1.4$, which is typical of canonical pulsars. The radio flux has not decreased during this outburst, whereas the long-term trends in the other radio magnetars show concomitant fading of the radio and X-ray fluxes. Finally, our wideband measurements of the DMs taken in adjacent frequency bands in tandem are stochastically inconsistent with one another. Based on recent theoretical predictions, we consider the possibility that the dispersion measure is frequency-dependent. Despite having several properties in common with the other radio magnetars, such as $L_{\textrm{X,qui}}/L_{\textrm{rot}} \lesssim 1$, an increase in the radio flux during the X-ray flux decay has not been observed thus far in other systems.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables; accepted to Ap

What to expect when you're expecting a hepatopancreatobiliary surgeon: self‐reported experiences of HPB surgeons from different training pathways

BackgroundHepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgery fellowship training has multiple paths. Prospective trainees and employers must understand the differences between training pathways. This study examines self‐reported fellowship experiences and current scope of practice across three pathways.MethodsAn online survey was disseminated to 654 surgeons. These included active Americas Hepato‐Pancreato‐Biliary Association (AHPBA) members and recent graduates of HPB, transplant–HPB and HPB–heavy surgical oncology fellowships.ResultsA total of 416 (64%) surgeons responded. Most respondents were male (89%) and most were practising in an academic setting (83%). 290 (70%) respondents underwent formal fellowship training. Although fellowship experiences varied, current practice was largely similar. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and ultrasound were the most commonly identified areas of training deficiencies and were, respectively, cited as such by 47% and 34% of HPB‐, 49% and 50% of transplant‐, and 52% and 25% of surgical oncology‐trained respondents. Non‐HPB cases performed in current practice included gastrointestinal (GI) and general surgery cases (56% and 49%, respectively) for HPB‐trained respondents, transplant and general surgery cases (87% and 21%, respectively) for transplant‐trained respondents, and GI surgery and non‐HPB surgical oncology cases (70% and 28%, respectively) for surgical oncology‐trained respondents.ConclusionsFellowship training in HPB surgery varies by training pathway. Training in MIS and ultrasound is deficient in each pathway. The ultimate scope of non‐transplant HPB practice appears similar across training pathways. Thus, training pathway choice is best guided by the training experience desired and non‐HPB components of anticipated practice.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113167/1/hpb12430.pd