Pedagogical evaluation of remote laboratories in eMerge project

This study investigates opportunities for conducting electrical engineering experiments via the Internet rather than in an actual laboratory. Eighty-four French students of electrical engineering (semester 1, 2004) at Bordeaux University 1 participated in practical courses. Half of the students performed experiments in a laboratory while the other half performed them via the Internet. Questionnaires were used to obtain students' views as to acceptance, usability, learning effect and usefulness in studying and vocational terms. The learning effect was also measured by a knowledge test. The results show that conducting experiments via the Internet is just as successful as conducting experiments in an actual laboratory. The experiments performed score well for usability and moderately for acceptance and usefulness in studying and vocational terms. Greater use of webcams is suggested as a way of improving acceptance, as this allows more direct contact to the experiments.     

From 1883 to 2019; Variables Influencing Body Procurement at McGill University

McGill University has continued to maintain whole body dissection as an integral component of its medical school curriculum. To better explore the factors influencing body procurement at McGill University, records of body receipts were collected from their paper and electronic records and analyzed from 1883 to 2019. The data collected allowed for discussion on the number of bodies received at McGill University each year, the age at death of the bodies, their sex, as well as religious affiliation and language spoken at home. As bodies of the deceased have a long held and unique status in law, this information was considered in light of historical and legislative data and, in the case of religion and language, it was compared to census data for Montréal, Québec, Canada. Overall numbers of bodies procured by McGill University have varied throughout the years, with no discernable target number over time. The current body donor profile at McGill University is likely to be a male in his 70's and likely to speak French at home. However, the strong connection of the University with the Anglophone community of Montréal is reflected by the significantly higher proportion of English-speaking donors when compared to the general population of the city. In regard to legislation, it appears that the most recent legislations did not affect the rate of procurement. However, when legislations were embraced by religious institutions in 1883, there was a 261% increase in bodies sent for dissection, over the following two decades.     

Evaluating the integration of body donor imaging into anatomical dissection using augmented reality

Augmented reality (AR) has recently been utilized as an integrative teaching tool in medical curricula given its ability to view virtual objects while interacting with the physical environment. The evidence for AR in medical training, however, is limited. For this reason, the purpose of this mixed method study was to evaluate the implementation of overlaying donor-specific diagnostic imaging (DSDI) onto corresponding body donors in a fourth-year, dissection-based, medical elective course entitled anatomy for surgeons (AFS). Students registered in AFS course were separated into groups, receiving either DSDI displayed on Microsoft HoloLens AR head-mounted display (n = 12) or DSDI displayed on iPad (n = 15). To test for the change in spatial ability, students completed an anatomical mental rotation test (AMRT) prior to and following the AFS course. Students also participated in a focus group discussion and completed a survey at the end of AFS, analyzed through thematic triangulation and an unpaired, Mann Whitney U test respectively, both addressing dissection experience, DSDI relevancy to dissection, and use of AR in anatomical education. Although statistically significant differences were not found when comparing student group AMRT scores, survey and discussion data suggest that the HoloLens had improved the students' understanding of, and their spatial orientation of, anatomical relationships. Trunk dissection quality grades were significantly higher with students using the HoloLens. Although students mentioned difficulties with HoloLens software, with faculty assistance, training, and enhanced software development, there is potential for this AR tool to contribute to improved dissection quality and an immersive learning experience.     

Professional Attitudes in Health Professions' Education: The Effects of an Anatomy Near-Peer Learning Activity

Interprofessional attitudes existing between healthcare disciplines can negatively impact communication and collaboration in the clinical setting. While human anatomy is a topic central to healthcare trainees, the potential of the anatomy laboratory to minimize negative interprofessional attitudes has yet to be characterized. This study aimed to assess the effects of an anatomy interprofessional near-peer learning activity (AIP-NPLA) on medical and nursing students' interprofessional attitudes at McGill University. The authors employed a convergent parallel mixed methods study to explore participants' AIP-NPLA experiences. The Attitudes to Health Professionals Questionnaire (AHPQ) was used pre- and post-AIP-NPLA to assess participants' attitudes toward their own and their counterpart profession. In addition, a focus group was held immediately following the AIP-NPLA to explore participants' experiences and interprofessional perceptions. Quantitative results using a principal components analysis demonstrated significant changes in nursing students' responses between pre- and post-AIP-NPLA scoring, rating the medical profession as being more caring overall. Medical students' responses pre- and post-AIP-NPLA demonstrated no significant differences. Qualitative results also suggested a breakdown of negative attitudes, an increased understanding of inter- and intra-professional roles, and the importance of interprofessional collaboration and mutual learning for their careers. These findings revealed that attitudes among healthcare trainees may be positively restructured in the anatomy laboratory, allowing for collaborative care to predominate in current and future clinical practices.     

A Factor Analysis of the Role of the State Director of Guidance Service

A review of the literature reveals that no research had been conducted on the role of the State Director of Guidance Services. A questionnaire sent to 280 state directors and state supervisors of guidance services in the 50 states was the instrument used to gather the data. By grouping the 15 factors yielded into three major categories—Service, Administration, and Non-service—a priori observations were confirmed mathematically which lent themselves to a more detailed interpretation. Since the results of this study have been extracted from data supplied by a contemporary group of state directors and state supervisors of guidance services, and since roles change with time, this role study cannot be construed to be final or complete. However, it should serve as a basis for future similar studies.     

Tour de France,Giro, Vuelta,and classic European races show a unique progression of road cycling speed in the last 20 years

Abstract

Road cycling ranks among the most intense endurance exercises. Previous studies and mathematical models describing road cycling have not analysed performances per se. We describe the evolution of road cycling performance over the past 116 years. We studied the top ten cyclists' mean speeds in eight famous classic races and three European Grand Tours, using a previously published multi-exponential model that highlights the different progression periods of an event during the century. In addition, we measured an indicator of difficulty for the Tour de France by calculating the climbing index (i.e. the total altitude climbed over total distance). The eleven races' mean speed increased progressively from 23.13 km · h^?1 in 1892 to 41.19 ± 2.03 km · h^?1 in 2008. Road cycling development, like other quantifiable disciplines, fits a piecewise progression pattern that follows three periods: before, between, and after the two World Wars. However, a fourth period begins after 1993, providing a speed progression of 6.38% from the third one. The Tour de France's climbing index also provided insight into a recent paradoxical relationship with speeds: when the climbing index increased, the winner's speed also increased. Our results show a major improvement (6.38%) in road cycling performance in the last 20 years and question the role of extra-physiological parameters in this recent progression.