Using Microsoft HoloLens to improve memory recall in anatomy and physiology: A pilot study to examine the efficacy of using augmented reality in education

This paper explores the use of augmented reality (AR) to improve memory recall and learning experiences in human anatomy and physiology. In particular, the opportunity to assess new computer technologies to improve learning environments may allow for an improvement in self-efficacy and a reduction in test anxiety. Twenty-two undergraduates participated in one of two study groups, the Microsoft HoloLens group (HLNS) or the traditional projector-based Microsoft Power Point group (PPT). Each group completed a five-minute, three-subject anatomy identification and brain physiology memory test. After a three-minute time delay, participants completed a fill-in-the-blank anatomy identification test and brain physiology question test, followed by questionnaires for systems self-efficacy and test anxiety. Results indicated the PPT group significantly outperformed the HLNS group in the brain lobe identification portion of the exam and had reported higher mean test anxiety scores (though not high enough to be considered unhealthy levels). However, the HLNS group showed a significantly higher preference to the learning experience compared to the PPT group based on the systems self-efficacy questionnaire. This pilot study demonstrates an opportunity for the HLNS to use used in learning environments to improve the psychological aspects of studying and test taking

Parenting Style and the Timing of Jewish Adolescents’ Sexual Debut

Parenting style and its effect on the timing of Jewish adolescents’ sexual debuts were examined in the reported study. One hundred sixty-eight research participants between the ages of 18 and 22 from a large university in the Southeast participated in the study. A survey instrument was administered at three fraternities and two sororities to examine parenting style and sexual debut retrospectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency chi square tests, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA); while post hoc results were determined through Tukey’s honestly significant difference. Results found that authoritative parenting provides a delay in the age of sexual debut for Jewish adolescents. All other parenting styles had mean ages less than the overall mean age of sexual debut, 17.10 years old, with indifferent parenting having the earliest debut. These findings suggest that parenting style may affect the timing of Jewish adolescents’ sexual debut. The study has implications for understanding factors that may affect the timing of a Jewish adolescent’s sexual debut and may help parents protect their adolescent from the negative effects associated with early sexual debut, such as low academic achievement. Recommendations for future research include exploring the effects of family structure and peer networks to understand fully the many factors that affect the timing of adolescents’ sexual debut

Pandemic intake questionnaire to improve quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of outpatient neurologic and developmental care at the Kennedy Krieger institute during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic uniquely affects patients with neurologic and developmental disabilities at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. These patients are at increased risk of co-morbidities, increasing their risk of contracting COVID-19. Disruptions in their home and school routines, and restrictions accessing crucial healthcare services has had a significant impact.MethodsA Pandemic Intake questionnaire regarding COVID-19 related medical concerns of guardians of patients was distributed using Qualtrics. Data from May-December 2020 were merged with demographic information of patients from 10 clinics (Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), Neurology, Epigenetics, Neurogenetics, Center for Development and Learning (CDL) Sickle Cell, Spinal Cord, Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), Tourette's, and Metabolism). A provider feedback survey was distributed to program directors to assess the effectiveness of this intervention.ResultsAnalysis included responses from 1643 guardians of pediatric patients (mean age 9.5 years, range 0–21.6 years). Guardians of patients in more medically complicated clinics reported perceived increased risk of COVID-19 (p < 0.001) and inability to obtain therapies (p < 0.001) and surgeries (p < 0.001). Guardian responses from CARD had increased reports of worsening behavior (p = 0.01). Providers increased availability of in-person and virtual therapies and visits and made referrals for additional care to address this. In a survey of medical providers, five out of six program directors who received the responses to this survey found this questionnaire helpful in caring for their patients.ConclusionThis quality improvement project successfully implemented a pre-visit questionnaire to quickly assess areas of impact of COVID-19 on patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. During the pandemic, results identified several major areas of impact, including patient populations at increased risk for behavioral changes, sleep and/or disruptions of medical care. Most program directors reported improved patient care as a result

An analysis of user comfort for wearable devices and their impact on logistical operations

This dissertation is comprised of three different studies researching user perception of comfort when using wearable technology. The first study investigated the use of altered smart glasses to study comfort, preference, and performance while executing common logistical order picking and shipment putting tasks. The impact of design type (weighted front, side, or back) was investigated using comfort rating scales (CRS). There was no significant difference in device preference regardless of task type. Despite the side weighted arrangement being the most comfortable, the participants still felt uncomfortable. The second study explored modifying the weights to the six dimensions of the CRS to create a comfort score. There was a strong correlation between the weighted and unweighted comfort score. Participants identified Harm as the most important dimension. The results suggest that the participants valued importance did not make a difference in the comfort score. The final study examined the use of a wand scanner and two wearable devices to study comfort and performance while executing common logistical shipment putting tasks. The impact of the wearables was investigated using the CRS. Participants identified the ring and wand scanner to be the most comfortable and the glasses as the least comfortable device. The CRS scores showed that participants became more uncomfortable using the smart glasses over time during the completion of the putting task. These three studies provided insight for industry from a comfort perspective that will be helpful when trying to incorporate wearable technology in the work place

Sex ratio, poverty, and concurrent partnerships among men and women in the United States: a multilevel analysis

PURPOSE: Social and economic contextual factors may promote concurrent sexual partnerships, which can accelerate population HIV/STI transmission and are more common among African Americans than U.S. Whites. We investigated the relationship between contextual factors and concurrency. METHODS: We analyzed past-12-month concurrency prevalence in the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and its contextual database in relation to county sex ratio (among respondent’s racial/ethnic group), percentage in poverty (among respondent’s racial/ethnic group), and violent crime rate. Analyses examined counties with balanced (0.95–1.05 males/female) or low (<0.9) sex ratios. RESULTS: Concurrency prevalence was greater (OR; 95% CI) in counties with low sex ratios (1.67; 1.17, 2.39), more poverty (OR 1.18; 0.98, 1.42 per 10 percentage-point increase), and higher crime rates (OR 1.04; 1.00,1.09 per 1,000 population/year). Notably, 99.5% of Whites and 93.7% of Hispanics, but only 7.85% of Blacks, lived in balanced sex ratio counties; about 5% of Whites, half of Hispanics and three-fourths of Blacks resided in counties with > 20% same-race poverty. CONCLUSIONS: The dramatic Black-White differences in contextual factors in the US and their association with sexual concurrency could contribute to the nation’s profound racial disparities in HIV infection