Effectiveness of virtual and augmented reality for improving knowledge and skills in medical students: protocol for a systematic review

Introduction Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies are increasingly being used in undergraduate medical education. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of VR and AR technologies for improving knowledge and skills in medical students.Methods and analysis Using Best Evidence in Medical Education (BEME) collaboration guidelines, we will search MEDLINE (via PubMed), Education Resources Information Center, PsycINFO, Web of Knowledge, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for English-language records, from January 1990 to March 2021. Randomised trials that studied the use of VR or AR devices for teaching medical students will be included. Studies that assessed other healthcare professionals, or did not have a comparator group, will be excluded. The primary outcome measures relate to medical students’ knowledge and clinical skills. Two reviewers will independently screen studies and assess eligibility based on our prespecified eligibility criteria, and then extract data from each eligible study using a modified BEME coding form. Any disagreements will be resolved by discussion or, if necessary, the involvement of a third reviewer. The BEME Quality Indicators checklist and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool will be used to assess the quality of the body of evidence. Where data are of sufficient homogeneity, a meta-analysis using a random-effects model will be conducted. Otherwise, a narrative synthesis approach will be taken and studies will be evaluated based on Kirkpatrick’s levels of educational outcomes and the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis guidelines.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review as no primary data are being collected. We will disseminate the findings of this review through scientific conferences and through publication in a peer-reviewed journal

MRSA transmission dynamics among interconnected acute, intermediate-term, and long-term healthcare facilities in Singapore

This work was supported by the Ministry of Health, Singapore (Communicable Diseases–Public Health Research Grant), the Wellcome Trust (Institutional Strategic Support Fund award [grant 097831/Z/11/Z] to the University of St Andrews Bioinformatics Unit), and the Scottish Infection Research Network and Chief Scientist Office (Scottish Healthcare Associated Infection Prevention Institute consortium funding [Chief Scientist Office reference SIRN10] to K. P. and M. T. G. H.).Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common healthcare-associated multidrug-resistant organism. Despite the interconnectedness between acute care hospitals (ACHs) and intermediate- and long-term care facilities (ILTCFs), the transmission dynamics of MRSA between healthcare settings is not well understood. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a network comprising an ACH and 5 closely affiliated ILTCFs in Singapore. A total of 1700 inpatients were screened for MRSA over a 6-week period in 2014. MRSA isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing, with a pairwise single-nucleotide polymorphism (Hamming distance) cutoff of 60 core genome single-nucleotide polymorphisms used to define recent transmission clusters (clades) for the 3 major clones. Results: MRSA prevalence was significantly higher in intermediate-term (29.9%) and long-term (20.4%) care facilities than in the ACH (11.8%) (P < .001). The predominant clones were sequence type [ST] 22 (n = 183; 47.8%), ST45 (n = 129; 33.7%), and ST239 (n = 26; 6.8%), with greater diversity of STs in ILTCFs relative to the ACH. A large proportion of the clades in ST22 (14 of 21 clades; 67%) and ST45 (7 of 13; 54%) included inpatients from the ACH and ILTCFs. The most frequent source of the interfacility transmissions was the ACH (n = 28 transmission events; 36.4%). Conclusions: MRSA transmission dynamics between the ACH and ILTCFs were complex. The greater diversity of STs in ILTCFs suggests that the ecosystem in such settings might be more conducive for intrafacility transmission events. ST22 and ST45 have successfully established themselves in ILTCFs. The importance of interconnected infection prevention and control measures and strategies cannot be overemphasized.PostprintPeer reviewe

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10&nbsp;years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37&nbsp;years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Experimental Design Dataset

<p>In a group of 5, a 50m transect was laid out from the edge of a pond to the edge of a grassland. At each 10m interval (including the 0m interval), 2 quadrats were laid out; one on each side of the transect. The species of plants in each quadrat were recorded along with the average height of the species between the 2 quadrats (measured in inches using a measuring tape) as well as the average coverage of each species between the 2 quadrats (estimated as a percentage). This process was repeated for the area between the edge of the same pond and the edge of a road (disturbance).  </p

Ecology Week3 Woodlot Dataset 4

<p>Ateeb Khan</p> <p>The experient was conducted in order to observe the characteristics of a single species of trees and their respective saplings. This was achieved for 10 sugar maple trees by running a 25m transect tape through a woodlot forest and recording data such as diameter at breast height of the tree and nearest sapling, distance to nearest sapling and canopy coverage of the tree. This was done by myself and the aid of my peer Akhilesh by using our hands and other items as a reference for length, and comparing it to the transect measuring tape for a more accurate length. The 10 closest trees (of the same species) to the transect tape were used for the experiment</p

EcologyWeek4 - DataSet4 Lab Data

<p>The experiment was conducted at the NorthWest corner of York University Keele campus on September 29 2014 between 3:00pm and 4:30pm. A 25m transect was laid out in a Woodlot area, and information such as number of birds observed, species of birds, and distance to birds were recorded. This method was used due to the fact that birds are most likely to be flying or in tress, making it extremely difficult to place a quadrat around them or capture them in a net. Due to that fact, the distances were all estimates. Since there were multiple groups conducting experiments, their transects were used in order to easily perform 4 additional trials. This entire process was then repeated in a Grassland area, making a total of 10 trials (5 in each environment).</p

Finite Element Modelling for Static and Free Vibration Response of Functionally Graded Beam

Abstract A 1D Finite Element model for static response and free vibration analysis of functionally graded material (FGM) beam is presented in this work. The FE model is based on efficient zig-zag theory (ZIGT) with two noded beam element having four degrees of freedom at each node. Linear interpolation is used for the axial displacement and cubic hermite interpolation is used for the deflection. Out of a large variety of FGM systems available, Al/SiC and Ni/Al2O3 metal/ceramic FGM system has been chosen. Modified rule of mixture (MROM) is used to calculate the young's modulus and rule of mixture (ROM) is used to calculate density and poisson's ratio of FGM beam at any point. The MATLAB code based on 1D FE zigzag theory for FGM elastic beams is developed. A 2D FE model for the same elastic FGM beam has been developed using ABAQUS software. An 8-node biquadratic plane stress quadrilateral type element is used for modeling in ABAQUS. Three different end conditions namely simply-supported, cantilever and clamped- clamped are considered. The deflection, normal stress and shear stress has been reported for various models used. Eigen Value problem using subspace iteration method is solved to obtain un-damped natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes. The results predicted by the 1D FE model have been compared with the 2D FE results and the results present in open literature. This proves the correctness of the model. Finally, mode shapes have also been plotted for various FGM systems