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MedEdPORTAL : the Journal of Teaching... 2024The influence of implicit biases in virtual interviews must be addressed to ensure equity within the admissions process. ABATE is a mnemonic framework of five specific...
INTRODUCTION
The influence of implicit biases in virtual interviews must be addressed to ensure equity within the admissions process. ABATE is a mnemonic framework of five specific categories of implicit bias (affinity-based, backdrop-based, appearance-based, technology and media-based, and enunciation-based biases) that should be anticipated and mitigated for faculty, staff, health professionals, and medical students who conduct virtual interviews at medical schools.
METHODS
A 60-minute workshop was developed to educate medical school admissions interviewers about the ABATE model and strategies to mitigate implicit bias during virtual interviews. Four workshops were held over 1 year totaling 217 individual attendees. The workshops were evaluated using a single-group, pre-post questionnaire designed with the Kirkpatrick evaluation model.
RESULTS
Attendees reported that they found the ABATE workshop useful and relevant to improving their ability to minimize implicit bias during virtual interviews. Significant improvements were found in attendee reactions to the utility of implicit bias training ( pre = 2.6, post = 3.1, = .002). Significant changes were also reported in attendees' attitudes about interviewing confidence ( pre = 3.0, post = 3.2, = .04), bias awareness ( pre = 3.0, post = 3.4, = .002), and identifying and applying bias mitigation solutions ( pre = 2.5, post = 3.0, = .003). Knowledge specific to backdrop-based biases also significantly increased ( pre = 3.2, post = 3.4, = .04).
DISCUSSION
The ABATE workshop demonstrates promise in mitigating implicit bias in virtual medical school interviews.
Topics: Humans; Schools, Medical; Interviews as Topic; Surveys and Questionnaires; School Admission Criteria; Students, Medical; Bias; Education; Male; Female
PubMed: 38957531
DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11416 -
MedEdPORTAL : the Journal of Teaching... 2024Pelvic fistulas affect a significant number of patients globally, with a relatively low prevalence in the United States. Virtual education offers an effective, scalable...
INTRODUCTION
Pelvic fistulas affect a significant number of patients globally, with a relatively low prevalence in the United States. Virtual education offers an effective, scalable solution to bridge this educational gap and lead to a deeper understanding of more common conditions, such as urinary and fecal incontinence.
METHODS
We developed two virtual cases on rectovaginal and vesicovaginal/ureterovaginal fistulas to enhance medical students' exposure, knowledge, and confidence regarding assessment of pelvic fistulas. The cases could be completed in approximately 30 minutes, asynchronously, and at students' own pace. The cases were integrated into an OB/GYN clerkship. We conducted a survey among students receiving the cases to gather feedback on usability, acceptability, and educational value, which guided subsequent improvements.
RESULTS
Forty medical students, ranging from first to third year, participated in the urogynecology elective; 21 (53%) completed the survey. Ninety-one percent agreed or strongly agreed they were satisfied with the cases. All respondents found the format easy to use and appropriate for their level of learning. Most reported the cases improved their confidence in nonsurgical and surgical management options for pelvic fistulas.
DISCUSSION
Offering virtual and interactive patient cases on e-learning platforms represents an innovative approach to increasing clinical exposure to urogynecologic disorders. By providing medical students with the opportunity to interact with pelvic fistulas virtually, these cases can help bridge a gap in clinical education. Future exploration is valuable for examining knowledge deficiencies and developing cost-effective, self-paced, easily accessible educational resources to advance medical training and optimize patient care.
Topics: Humans; Female; Surveys and Questionnaires; Gynecology; Students, Medical; Education, Medical, Undergraduate; Education, Distance; Vesicovaginal Fistula; Adult; United States; Clinical Clerkship; Urology; Clinical Competence
PubMed: 38957526
DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11407 -
TheScientificWorldJournal 2024The purpose of this review was to investigate the application of metal nanoparticles in fruit shelf life extension. Despite growing interest in nanoparticles and their... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this review was to investigate the application of metal nanoparticles in fruit shelf life extension. Despite growing interest in nanoparticles and their potential applications, there are currently few effective methods for prolonging the shelf life of fruits. The study concentrated on the principles underlying the shelf life extension of metallic nanoparticles, including copper oxide, zinc oxide, silver, and titanium oxide. The biological properties of nanoparticles, especially those with antibacterial qualities, have drawn interest as possible fruit preservation solutions. Many conventional preservation methods have drawbacks, including expensive production costs, short shelf lives, undesirable residues, and the incapacity to properly keep perishable fruits in their natural environments. Techniques for extending shelf life based on nanotechnology have the potential to get around these problems. The review focused on the effective use of environmentally benign, green synthesis-produced nanoparticles to extend the fruit shelf life. The ability of these nanoparticles to successfully preserve fresh fruits was established. The results imply that fruit preservation by the use of nanoparticle synthesis techniques may be a viable strategy, offering a more effective and sustainable substitute for traditional procedures.
Topics: Metal Nanoparticles; Mangifera; Fruit; Food Preservation; Food Storage
PubMed: 38957455
DOI: 10.1155/2024/4782328 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2024Reflectance spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful analytical technique in the field of dermatology, offering a non-invasive strategy to assess several cutaneous... (Review)
Review
Reflectance spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful analytical technique in the field of dermatology, offering a non-invasive strategy to assess several cutaneous properties and skin response to topical products. By analyzing reflected light across different wavelengths, reflectance spectroscopy allows the quantification of cutaneous parameters, such as erythema index and melanin content. Moreover, this analytical technique enables the monitoring of any changes in skin physiology facilitating the assessment of long-term effects of topical products as well as predicting cutaneous diseases. This review provides an overview of the application of reflectance spectroscopy in investigating skin properties and reaction to topical applied products, including both pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations, thereby aiding in the development of personalized solutions tailored to individual needs.
PubMed: 38957405
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1422616 -
The Lancet Regional Health. Southeast... Aug 2024Telemedicine is a promising solution to the challenges of delivering equitable and quality primary healthcare, especially in LMICs. This review evaluated peer-reviewed... (Review)
Review
Telemedicine is a promising solution to the challenges of delivering equitable and quality primary healthcare, especially in LMICs. This review evaluated peer-reviewed literature on telehealth interventions in Indian primary care published from Jan 1, 2011 to Dec 31, 2021, from PubMed, Scopus, TRIP, Google Scholar, Indian Kanoon, and Cochrane database The majority of Indian studies focus on key health issues like maternal and child health, mental health, diabetes, infectious diseases, and hypertension, mainly through patient education, monitoring, and diagnostics. Yet, there's a lack of research on telemedicine's cost-effectiveness, communication among providers, and the role of leadership in its quality and accessibility. The current research has gaps, including small sample sizes and inconsistent methodologies, which hamper the evaluation of telemedicine's effectiveness. India's varied healthcare landscape, technological limitations, and social factors further challenge telemedicine's adoption. Despite regulatory efforts, issues like the digital divide and data privacy persist. Addressing these challenges with a context-aware, technologically driven approach is crucial for enhancing healthcare through telemedicine in India.
PubMed: 38957222
DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2024.100431 -
Frontiers in Robotics and AI 2024In this study, we address the critical need for enhanced situational awareness and victim detection capabilities in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations amidst disasters....
In this study, we address the critical need for enhanced situational awareness and victim detection capabilities in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations amidst disasters. Traditional unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) often struggle in such chaotic environments due to their limited manoeuvrability and the challenge of distinguishing victims from debris. Recognising these gaps, our research introduces a novel technological framework that integrates advanced gesture-recognition with cutting-edge deep learning for camera-based victim identification, specifically designed to empower UGVs in disaster scenarios. At the core of our methodology is the development and implementation of the Meerkat Optimization Algorithm-Stacked Convolutional Neural Network-Bi-Long Short Term Memory-Gated Recurrent Unit (MOA-SConv-Bi-LSTM-GRU) model, which sets a new benchmark for hand gesture detection with its remarkable performance metrics: accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score all approximately 0.9866. This model enables intuitive, real-time control of UGVs through hand gestures, allowing for precise navigation in confined and obstacle-ridden spaces, which is vital for effective SAR operations. Furthermore, we leverage the capabilities of the latest YOLOv8 deep learning model, trained on specialised datasets to accurately detect human victims under a wide range of challenging conditions, such as varying occlusions, lighting, and perspectives. Our comprehensive testing in simulated emergency scenarios validates the effectiveness of our integrated approach. The system demonstrated exceptional proficiency in navigating through obstructions and rapidly locating victims, even in environments with visual impairments like smoke, clutter, and poor lighting. Our study not only highlights the critical gaps in current SAR response capabilities but also offers a pioneering solution through a synergistic blend of gesture-based control, deep learning, and purpose-built robotics. The key findings underscore the potential of our integrated technological framework to significantly enhance UGV performance in disaster scenarios, thereby optimising life-saving outcomes when time is of the essence. This research paves the way for future advancements in SAR technology, with the promise of more efficient and reliable rescue operations in the face of disaster.
PubMed: 38957217
DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2024.1356345 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied extensively for its potential to enhance human cognitive functions in healthy individuals and to treat... (Review)
Review
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied extensively for its potential to enhance human cognitive functions in healthy individuals and to treat cognitive impairment in various clinical populations. However, little is known about how tDCS modulates the neural networks supporting cognition and the complex interplay with mediating factors that may explain the frequently observed variability of stimulation effects within and between studies. Moreover, research in this field has been characterized by substantial methodological variability, frequent lack of rigorous experimental control and small sample sizes, thereby limiting the generalizability of findings and translational potential of tDCS. The present manuscript aims to delineate how these important issues can be addressed within a neuroimaging context, to reveal the neural underpinnings, predictors and mediators of tDCS-induced behavioral modulation. We will focus on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), because it allows the investigation of tDCS effects with excellent spatial precision and sufficient temporal resolution across the entire brain. Moreover, high resolution structural imaging data can be acquired for precise localization of stimulation effects, verification of electrode positions on the scalp and realistic current modeling based on individual head and brain anatomy. However, the general principles outlined in this review will also be applicable to other imaging modalities. Following an introduction to the overall state-of-the-art in this field, we will discuss in more detail the underlying causes of variability in previous tDCS studies. Moreover, we will elaborate on design considerations for tDCS-fMRI studies, optimization of tDCS and imaging protocols and how to assure high-level experimental control. Two additional sections address the pressing need for more systematic investigation of tDCS effects across the healthy human lifespan and implications for tDCS studies in age-associated disease, and potential benefits of establishing large-scale, multidisciplinary consortia for more coordinated tDCS research in the future. We hope that this review will contribute to more coordinated, methodologically sound, transparent and reproducible research in this field. Ultimately, our aim is to facilitate a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which tDCS modulates human cognitive functions and more effective and individually tailored translational and clinical applications of this technique in the future.
PubMed: 38957187
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1389651 -
Rheumatic Diseases Amidst Conflict in Northwest Syria: Unveiling Health Challenges and Implications.Avicenna Journal of Medicine Apr 2024The ongoing conflict in Syria has significantly affected the health care system, particularly in the realm of rheumatology. The purpose of this study is to assess...
The ongoing conflict in Syria has significantly affected the health care system, particularly in the realm of rheumatology. The purpose of this study is to assess the current state of rheumatic diseases in the northwestern region of Syria, where the health care infrastructure has been severely impacted. This was a retrospective study reviewing all patients with rheumatologic conditions seen in internal medicine clinics in northwest Syria between September 2019 and February 2022. Baseline demographic data and diagnoses were collected retrospectively, without any data duplication, from outpatient clinic records. The study also reviewed the availability of investigations and drugs in the northwestern region of Syria. We analyzed data from 488 patients (average age: 37.4; 63% female) diagnosed with rheumatic diseases. The most prevalent condition was connective tissue disorders (25.6%), with osteoarthritis (12.1%) and rheumatoid arthritis (8.2%) following. The ongoing conflict has led to a significant shortage of rheumatologists, with only three serving a population of 5.5 million. Furthermore, the conflict has disrupted the provision and quality of rheumatology diagnostic tests, reducing patient accessibility. The dearth of medications and increased costs have compounded the complexity of health care for those with rheumatic diseases. This study highlights the urgent need for improved health care services and proposes solutions to address gaps in rheumatic care in northwest Syria.
PubMed: 38957155
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1786826 -
Journal of Food Science Jul 2024Previously, we showed that water extract (soymilk, except pH was increased to 8 from 6.5) of whole soybean could be used directly as a raw material for producing edible...
Previously, we showed that water extract (soymilk, except pH was increased to 8 from 6.5) of whole soybean could be used directly as a raw material for producing edible soy films by deposition of the film-forming solution (soy extract with enhancers). However, the strength of such soy films needed improvement because they were weak. The purpose of this study was to investigate how transglutaminase (TG) cross-linking reactions and film enhancers, including pectin (low- and high-methoxyl pectin), whey protein isolate (WPI), and soy protein isolate (SPI), improve the physical properties of soy films. Soy films prepared with TG had tensile strength (TS) of 3.01 MPa and puncture strength (PS) of 0.78 MPa, which were higher by as much as 51% and 30% than that of soy films without TG treatment, respectively. Pectin showed significant effects on the mechanical properties of TG-added soy films in terms of TS, PS, and % elongation. On the other hand, only TS and PS were increased by the addition of WPI or SPI. Heat curing had a significant effect on soy film's physical properties. TG treatment significantly reduced film solubility when soaked in water and various levels of acid (vinegar) and base (baking soda) solutions. Under the experimental conditions of 35 unit TG and 28 min of reaction, the degrees of cross-linking were evidenced by the disappearance of individual protein subunits, except the basic subunit of glycinin, and the reduction of 21% of lysine residues of the proteins. HIGHLIGHTS: Edible soy films were made with transglutaminase and about 21% lysine cross-linked. The mechanical strength of soy films was increased by incorporating film enhancers. Transglutaminase enhanced the mechanical properties of soy films.
Topics: Transglutaminases; Pectins; Soybean Proteins; Tensile Strength; Solubility; Whey Proteins; Food Packaging; Cross-Linking Reagents; Glycine max; Edible Films; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Soy Milk
PubMed: 38957134
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17107 -
Journal of Food Science Jul 2024This study explored the mechanism of l-lysine intervention in wheat gluten protein (WG) gel formation under a microwave (MW) field. The results showed that the MW...
This study explored the mechanism of l-lysine intervention in wheat gluten protein (WG) gel formation under a microwave (MW) field. The results showed that the MW treatment had higher ζ-potential values at the same heating rate. After adding l-lysine, the solution conductivity and dielectric loss were significantly increased. Moreover, the WG gel strength enhanced 4.40% under the MW treatment. The Fourier spectra showed that the α-helix content was decreased 13.78% with the addition of lysine. The ultraviolet absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra indicated that MW irradiation impacted the interactions between WG molecules more effectively than the water bath heating, promoting the denaturation and unfolding of the protein structure. In addition, scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the incorporation of lysine promoted an ordered network structure formation of the protein, which enhanced the gel properties. This indicated that the zwitterion of l-lysine played a regulatory role in the aggregation of proteins in the MW field.
Topics: Microwaves; Lysine; Triticum; Glutens; Protein Aggregates; Plant Proteins; Hot Temperature; Gels
PubMed: 38957101
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17169