The Eyes and Ears of Engagement: Using RAs to Assess Resident Engagement

This article analyzes the effectiveness of an effort to assess the extent of student engagement at Fairfield University through the assistance of resident assistants (RAs) and the adaptation of a methodology used by the university’s schools of engineering and education. Asking RAs to participate in an assessment of their residents provides several clear benefits: the assessment rubric sets clear expectations in plain language; the rubric sets out clear expectations to the residents; and the assessment data appear to be a valid indicator of student engagement and allow the institution to identify students who may benefit from additional counseling or attention

Perception and attitude of physicians toward local generic medicines in Saudi Arabia: A questionnaire-based study

AbstractObjectives: The current study aimed to explore the knowledge, perception, and attitude of physicians toward generic medicines in Saudi Arabia.Background: The local market of generic medicine share in Saudi Arabia is low compared to global and regional statistics. The reason for this low market share and the role of physicians has not previously been investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess health practitioner level of perceived knowledge, opinions and attitudes about local generic medication, and identify factors that influence infrequency of generic prescriptions.Methods: A random sample of 231 physicians was recruited from two hospitals in Riyadh (one government one private) and 178 (77%) responded. Information on the physicians’ perceived knowledge, opinions and attitude toward local generic medication was extracted, analyzed and interpreted. Factors that influence infrequent prescription of local generic drugs were identified.Results: Among the 178 participants in the physicians’ survey, 76% and 47% reported that they are knowledgeable about the terms “generic” and “bioequivalence” respectively, while 44% reported that they are able to explain bioequivalence to their patients. Approximately 52% of physicians reported that local generics should be substituted for brands if suitable for the case, and 21.9% reported that they believe SFDA approved local generics are therapeutically equivalent to their brands. Clinical effectiveness was reported by 71.9% of physicians as the most influential factor effecting prescription of brand over local generic medication. The three independent significant predictors for infrequent prescription of local generics among physicians: Government sector employment (OR=3.74, [95%CI 1.50–9.43]), consultant level (OR=3.94, [95%CI 1.50–10.31]) and low level of knowledge about local generics (OR=4.11, [95%CI 1.56–10.84]).Conclusion: The low market share of local generics medicines attributed to low prescription rates is significantly more among senior-level physicians working in governmental hospitals. Low level of knowledge about generic drugs among physicians was the strongest predictive factor for low prescription. Future bigger studies are needed to confirm these results

ApInAPDB: a database of apoptosis-inducing anticancer peptides

ApInAPDB (Apoptosis-Inducing Anticancer Peptides Database) consists of 818 apoptosis-inducing anticancer peptides which are manually collected from research articles. The database provides scholars with peptide related information such as function, binding target and affinity, IC50 and etc. In addition, GRAVY (grand average of hydropathy), net charge at pH 7, hydrophobicity and other physicochemical properties are calculated and presented. Another category of information are structural information includes 3D modeling, secondary structure prediction and descriptors for QSAR (quantitative structure–activity relationship) modeling. In order to facilitate the browsing process, three types of user-friendly searching tools are provided: top categories browser, simple search and advanced search. Overall ApInAPDB as the first database presenting apoptosis-inducing anticancer peptides can be useful in the field of peptide design and especially cancer therapy. Researchers can freely access the database at http://bioinf.modares.ac.ir/software/ApInAPDB/

Imaging the Morrow A Sandstone Using Shear Wave VSP Data, Postle Field, Oklahoma

Morrow sandstones constitute important oil-producing reservoirs in the Anadarko Basin in the Mid-Continent Region of the USA. Characterization of the Morrow A sandstone reservoir in Postle Field, Texas County, Oklahoma, is challenging due to its small thickness, low acoustic impedance contrast with the surrounding Morrow shale, and lithological heterogeneity. Shear wave data have been documented as a promising solution for imaging the Morrow A sandstone. Vertical seismic profiling (VSP) offers the potential to enhance shear wave imaging of the thin heterogeneous Morrow A sandstone at Postle Field. The zero-offset VSP results confirm the advantages of shear wave over compressional wave in imaging the Morrow A sandstone. Also, the final shear wave VSP image shows that, applying the proposed processing flow, we are able to image the Morrow A sandstone where the thickness is as thin as 8.5 m

Nursing Students’ and Teachers’ Perspectives on Clinical Education in Kuwait

Clinical education is the heart of nursing curriculum. An insight into the different perspectives could facilitate its improvement. AIMS: This descriptive, cross-sectional study aims to assess the nursing students’ and teachers’ perspectives on clinical education in Kuwait. METHODS: The study includes all faculty members of the Bachelor and Associate Degree in Nursing Programs from the College of Nursing, Kuwait (16 teachers and 12 trainers) and 120 students selected through convenient sampling from levels one to five of the Associate Degree in Nursing Program. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Aside from descriptive statistics, T-test was utilized to compare the students’ perspectives with that of the teachers. ANOVA was used to determine any difference in the perspectives according to various factors. A significant p-value was set at less than 0.05. RESULTS: Main findings of the study illustrate six items related to the state of clinical education deemed significant by both students and teachers, namely: hospital management collaboration in resolving problems of students (p = .001); collaboration and supervision of education (p = .003); access to welfare facilities at bedside and adequacy to educational facilities at bedside with p values of .004 and .002 respectively; development of skills in nursing process implementation (p = .010) and development of patient education skills (p = .028). Factors which can potentially create problems were the lack of appropriate scientific background in the ward (p=0.047) and students wandering in the absence of instructor (p=0.025).CONCLUSION: Students’ and teachers’ perspectives on the state of clinical education in Kuwait and the factors which may potentially create problem areas have basic commonalities, focusing on the importance of collaboration between the clinical agency and the educational institution and between those actually involved in supervision of the students - the clinical staff and school faculty. RECOMMENDATION: This study recommends conducting similar studies on a wider scale, considering the technological thrusts prompted by global circumstances like the pandemic. Keywords: Nursing students; Teachers; Perspectives; Clinical Educatio DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/82-07 Publication date: November 30th 202

Química y medio ambiente: "¿y si nos ponemos las pilas?" : Una propuesta de taller para llevar al aula

En este trabajo se presenta una propuesta didáctica implementada, en el marco de la Semana de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, a través de la modalidad de taller para alumnos de escuelas secundarias referido a pilas y baterías y su impacto en el medio ambiente. Dicha propuesta tiene base en el enfoque Ciencia, Tecnología, Sociedad y Ambiente (CTSA), la cual tiende a favorecer la integración de las dimensiones cognitivas y actitudinales de los estudiantes así como también propender un trabajo interdisciplinario. El creciente consumo de pilas y baterías induce a reflexionar sobre su destino cuando quedan en desuso y el impacto ambiental que su acumulación origina. En este sentido, puede resultar de interés la implementación de esta propuesta de trabajo referida a aspectos generales y efectos en el medio ambiente de pilas y baterías así como también el análisis de las posibles vías de deposición. La escasez de información clara sobre el destino que se le debe dar a las pilas y el desconocimiento generalizado respecto al manejo de residuos peligrosos nos lleva a pensar en la necesidad de promover este tipo de reflexiones en el aula.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Empezamos una nueva unidad... ¿Estequio... qué?

Estequiometría representa uno de los temas que mayor dificultad involucra para su aprendizaje por parte de los alumnos. Numerosos estudios avalan esta afirmación. En el presente trabajo nos proponemos realizar una reflexión sobre los aspectos que inciden en esta situación. En la resolución de los problemas estequiométricos confluyen una serie de cuestiones: el manejo simultáneo de diferentes niveles representacionales, las dificultades con la cuali y la cuantificación, los conceptos involucrados en la resolución y las teorías implícitas que modelan lo que los alumnos aprenden.Departamento de Ciencias Exactas y Naturale