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Introduction: Preservation of life, preservation of limb, and preservation of eyesight are the priorities for military medical personnel when attending to casualties. The incidences of eye injuries in modern warfare have increased significantly, despite personal eye equipment for service members. Serious eye injuries are often overlooked or discovered in a delayed fashion because they accompany other life- and limb-threatening injuries, which are assigned a higher priority. Prehospital military ocular trauma care is to shield the eye and evacuate the casualty to definitive ophthalmic care as soon as possible, with exceptions for treatment of ocular chemical injury and orbital compartment syndrome. Retrospective analysis of eye injuries in recent conflicts identified gaps in clinical capabilities with up to 96% of ocular injuries being suboptimally managed. Ocular compartment syndrome (OCS) is a complication associated with orbital hemorrhage, where significant morbidity occurs as a result of increasing intracompartment pressure. The ischemic tolerance of the retina and optic nerve is approximately 90 minutes, so OCS must be rapidly diagnosed and aggressively treated through lateral canthotomy/cantholysis (LC/C) to prevent permanent vision loss. LC/C procedures consist of using hemostats to crush the lateral canthal fold and cutting the lateral canthal tendon from the inferior crus to relieve increasing intracompartment pressure. The purpose of this study was to examine the baseline capabilities of military physicians and surgeons to accurately and independently perform the LC/C procedures and identify performance gaps that could be closed through focused professional development activities.Materials and Methods: This study received institutional review board approval at our institution. A total of 60 subjects voluntarily participated in the study from emergency medicine (15), general surgery (28), and ophthalmology (17). All procedural assessments were performed 1:1 by expert faculty ocular trauma specialists using a high-reliability eye trauma simulator (Sonalysts, Inc.). The competency standard was set at independent and accurate completion of all procedural components and all critical procedural components. Analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and analysis of variance to examine between-group differences (P < 0.05).Results: There was a significant difference between the total score performance and the critical score performance for the three groups (P < 0.001). Outcomes indicate a significant linear relationship between the expertise level of the clinical provider and the procedural performance of LC/C. Outcomes demonstrate the baseline surgical capabilities of the general surgeons transferred to LC/C performance; however, they were unfamiliar with the anatomy and the procedural techniques and requirements. The group of emergency medicine participants demonstrated performance gaps not only in the same areas as the general surgeons but also in their baseline surgical abilities. This suggests that different professional development activities are necessary for surgeons and physicians tasked with performing LC/V procedures.Conclusions: We identified significant performance gaps among emergency medicine physicians, general surgeons, and ophthalmologists in their abilities to recognize and treat OCS through LC/C procedures. These sight-saving procedures are a critical competency for forward-situated clinicians in expeditionary contexts. We identified the need for targeted approaches to professional development for closing the performance gaps for both emergency medicine physicians and general surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MVR) is considered one of the most challenging operations in cardiac surgery and requires much practice and experience. Simulation-based surgical training might be a method to support the learning process and help to flatten the steep learning curve of novices. The purpose of this study was to show the possible effects on learning of surgical training using a high-fidelity simulator with patient-specific mitral valve replicas. METHODS Twenty-five participants were recruited to perform MVR on anatomically realistic valve models during different training sessions. After every session their performance was evaluated by a surgical expert regarding accuracy and duration for each step. A second blinded rater similarly assessed the performance after the study. Through repeated documentation of those parameters, their progress in learning was analysed, and gains in proficiency were evaluated. RESULTS Participants showed significant performance enhancements in terms of both accuracy and time. Their surgical skills showed sizeable improvements after only 1 session. For example, the time to implant neo-chordae decreased by 24.64% (354 s-264 s, P  < 0.001) and the time for annuloplasty by 4.01% (54 s-50 s, P  = 0.165), whereas the number of irregular stitches for annuloplasty decreased from 52% to 24%. The significance of simulation-based surgical training as a tool for acquiring and training surgical skills was reviewed positively. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study indicate that simulation-based surgical training is a valuable and effective method for learning reconstructive techniques of minimally invasive MVR and overall general dexterity. The novel learning and training options should be implemented in the surgical traineeship for systematic teaching of various surgical skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Artificial neochordae implantation is commonly used for mitral valve (MV) repair. However, neochordae length estimation can be difficult to perform. The objective was to assess the impact of neochordae length changes on MV haemodynamics and neochordal forces. METHODS Porcine MVs (n  = 6) were implanted in an ex vivo left heart simulator. MV prolapse (MVP) was generated by excising at least 2 native primary chordae supporting the P2 segments from each papillary muscle. Two neochordae anchored on each papillary muscle were placed with 1 tied to the native chord length (exact length) and the other tied with variable lengths from 2× to 0.5× of the native length (variable length). Haemodynamics, neochordal forces and echocardiography data were collected. RESULTS Neochord implantation repair successfully eliminated mitral regurgitation with repaired regurgitant fractions of approximately 4% regardless of neochord length (P  <   0.01). Leaflet coaptation height also significantly improved to a minimum height of 1.3 cm compared with that of MVP (0.9 ± 0.4 cm, P  <   0.05). Peak and average forces on exact length neochordae increased as variable length neochordae lengths increased. Peak and average forces on the variable length neochordae increased with shortened lengths. Overall, chordal forces appeared to vary more drastically in variable length neochordae compared with exact length neochordae. CONCLUSIONS MV regurgitation was eliminated with neochordal repair, regardless of the neochord length. However, chordal forces varied significantly with different neochord lengths, with a preferentially greater impact on the variable length neochord. Further validation studies may be performed before translating to clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) into the field of rescue operations is an ongoing process. New tools, such as UGV platforms and dedicated manipulators, provide new opportunities but also come with a steep learning curve. The best way to familiarize operators with new solutions are hands-on courses but their deployment is limited, mostly due to high costs and limited equipment numbers. An alternative way is to use simulators, which from the software side, resemble video games. With the recent expansion of the video game engine industry, currently developed software becomes easier to produce and maintain. This paper tries to answer the question of whether it is possible to develop a highly accurate simulator of a rescue and IED manipulator using a commercially available game engine solution. Firstly, the paper describes different types of simulators for robots currently available. Next, it provides an in-depth description of a plug-in simulator concept. Afterward, an example of a hydrostatic manipulator arm and its virtual representation is described alongside validation and evaluation methodologies. Additionally, the paper provides a set of metrics for an example rescue scenario. Finally, the paper describes research conducted in order to validate the representation accuracy of the developed simulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES Virtual training simulators have been introduced in several surgical disciplines to improve residents' abilities. Through the use of the LapSim® virtual training simulator (Surgical Science, Göteborg, Sweden), this study aims to plan an effective learning path in minimally invasive thoracic and general surgery. METHODS All thoracic and general surgery trainees in their 1st and 2nd year of residency at the University of Insubria were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups: residents undergoing an intensive twice-a-week virtual training programme (group A: n  = 8) and those undergoing a once-weekly non-intensive virtual training programme (group B: n  = 9). The virtual training programme was divided into 4 modules, each of 12 weeks. In the 1st module, trainees repeated grasping, cutting, clip application, lifting and grasping, and fine dissection exercises during each training session. Seal-and-cut exercise was performed as the initial and final test. Data on surgical manoeuvres (time and on mistakes) were collected; intra- and inter-group comparisons were planned. RESULTS No significant differences were observed between groups A and B at the 1st session, confirming that the 2 groups had similar skills at the beginning. After 12 weeks, both groups showed improvements, but comparing data between initial and final test, only Group A registered a significant reduction in total time (P -value = 0.0015), left (P -value = 0.0017) and right (P -value = 0.0186) instrument path lengths, and in left (P -value = 0.0010) and right (P -value = 0.0073) instrument angular path lengths, demonstrating that group A acquired greater precision in surgical manoeuvres. CONCLUSIONS Virtual simulator training programme performed at least twice a week was effective for implementing basic surgical skills required for the trainee's professional growth. Additional virtual training modules focused on more complex exercises are planned to confirm these preliminary results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of simulation-based medical education and learning is one of the most crucial phases in curriculum development. A synthetic depiction of a real-world procedure used to accomplish educational objectives through hands-on learning is referred to as simulation. Any educational activity that uses simulation aids to mimic clinical circumstances is referred to as simulation-based medical education. Instead of studying like an apprentice, medical simulation enables the purposeful practice of clinical skills acquisition. Real patients can be substituted using simulation technologies. A trainee does not have to worry about hurting the patient in order to make errors and grow from them. Simulators come in a variety of forms and classifications, and their prices vary based on how closely they mimic reality, or "fidelity". The cost of simulation-based learning is high. But when used correctly, it's economical. It has been discovered that medical simulation improves clinical competency for both undergraduate and graduate students. It has also been discovered to have several benefits, including raising medical providers' competency levels, which can lower medical expenses and increase patient safety. This narrative review article's goal is to emphasize the value of simulation as a cutting-edge teaching strategy for graduate and undergraduate students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining is a high-risk industry, so efficiency and safety are key priorities. Technological advancements, such as digitisation, digitalisation, and automation have made mines safer. These developments have also highlighted the need for operators with updated skills and improved education programs. This study analysed the training of semi-autonomous and manual Load Haul Dump (LHD) operators' at LKAB's Kiirunavaara mine, focusing on operators' training, perspective and integration of more recent tool such as simulator training. The survey questionnaire was sent to all 120 LHD operators. 86 answers were received, giving response rate of 70%. Results showed that operators generally were satisfied with how the training was structured, organised, and delivered. However, they wanted to add more topics, including practical loading, spending time with departments of other sub-processes, etc. In addition, 36% of the operators, including 20% of those operating semi-autonomous LHDs, and 80% of those operating manual LHDs, found simulator training difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of autonomous vehicles, sensors and algorithm testing have become crucial parts of the autonomous vehicle development cycle. Having access to real-world sensors and vehicles is a dream for researchers and small-scale original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) due to the software and hardware development life-cycle duration and high costs. Therefore, simulator-based virtual testing has gained traction over the years as the preferred testing method due to its low cost, efficiency, and effectiveness in executing a wide range of testing scenarios. Companies like ANSYS and NVIDIA have come up with robust simulators, and open-source simulators such as CARLA have also populated the market. However, there is a lack of lightweight and simple simulators catering to specific test cases. In this paper, we introduce the SLAV-Sim, a lightweight simulator that specifically trains the behaviour of a self-learning autonomous vehicle. This simulator has been created using the Unity engine and provides an end-to-end virtual testing framework for different reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms in a variety of scenarios using camera sensors and raycasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) gained wide attention and are integrated into diverse systems and deployed into many contexts. The need to assess the UAVs' performances, impacts of applications, routing protocols, mobility as well as other features in a network is necessary. However, conducting real experiments within UAV-based systems and particularly with multi-UAV-based systems can be extremely costly and complex. To fill this gap simulators, emulators, and frameworks are used to evaluate the performance and viability of UAV-based systems with lower cost and in a short period. Accordingly, researchers and software engineers developed several simulators and co-simulators dedicated to the performance evaluations of UAV-based systems. In this regard, this investigation highlights and identifies the most suitable simulators, co-simulators, emulators, and frameworks for UAV flights and management. Both the tools dedicated to mono-UAV-based systems and the tools dedicated to multi-UAV-based systems are pinpointed. In this paper, the goals, the requirements, the strengths, and the limitations of each studied tool are detailed. Besides that, a UAV simulators catalog is provided. It includes guidelines that will be useful for researchers and help them to identify and to select the adequate tools for UAVs performance analysis that meet their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fog Computing (FC) was introduced to offer resources closer to the users. Researchers propose different solutions to make FC mature and use simulators for evaluating their solutions at early stages. In this paper, we compare different FC simulators based on their technical and non-technical characteristics. In addition, a practical comparison is conducted to compare the three main FC simulators based on their performance such as execution time, CPU, and memory usage for running different applications. The analysis can be helpful for researchers to select the appropriate simulator and platform to evaluate their solutions on different use cases. Furthermore, open issues and challenges for FC simulators are discussed that require attention and need to be addressed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic congestion is a serious challenge in urban areas. So, to address this challenge, the intelligent traffic management system (ITMS) is used to manage traffic on road networks. Managing traffic helps to focus on environmental impacts as well as emergency situations. However, the ITMS system has many challenges in analyzing scenes of complex traffic. New technologies such as computer vision (CV) and artificial intelligence (AI) are being used to solve these challenges. As a result, these technologies have made a distinct identity in the surveillance industry, particularly when it comes to keeping a constant eye on traffic scenes. There are many vehicle attributes and existing approaches that are being used in the development of ITMS, along with imaging technologies. In this paper, we reviewed the ITMS-based components that describe existing imaging technologies and existing approaches on the basis of their need for developing ITMS. The first component describes the traffic scene and imaging technologies. The second component talks about vehicle attributes and their utilization in existing vehicle-based approaches. The third component explains the vehicle's behavior on the basis of the second component's outcome. The fourth component explains how traffic-related applications can assist in the management and monitoring of traffic flow, as well as in the reduction of congestion and the enhancement of road safety. The fifth component describes the different types of ITMS applications. The sixth component discusses the existing methods of traffic signal control systems (TSCSs). Aside from these components, we also discuss existing vehicle-related tools such as simulators that work to create realistic traffic scenes. In the last section named discussion, we discuss the future development of ITMS and draw some conclusions. The main objective of this paper is to discuss the possible solutions to different problems during the development of ITMS in one place, with the help of components that would play an important role for an ITMS developer to achieve the goal of developing efficient ITMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing our carbon footprint is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity in the current millennium. In the last few years, researchers have focused their attention on balancing the demand and supply, thereby allowing better management of renewable energy resources. In this regard, many energy management strategies have been developed. Nevertheless, testing, evaluating, and comparing such approaches in multiple scenarios, and above all, assessing their generalization, is currently a hard, or even impossible, task. Furthermore, analyzing the impact of such strategies in Energy Communitys (ECs) is an underexplored task. This is due to the lack of existing EC datasets and simulators that allow users to evaluate and compare their approaches. Although there are some tools to generate demand and production profiles, they are all developed with a single purpose. To address these challenges, PROCSIM is presented: an open-source simulator designed especially to create energy community datasets for multiple purposes—in particular, to test and evaluate different algorithms and models. It includes integration with a consumption-profiles generator, tools to simulate Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and wind production, a module that generates an EC dataset, and finally, a set of metrics to evaluate the generated community. To conclude, a case study comprised of two experiments is presented. The first experiment shows how an EC dataset can be created using PROCSIM. In the second experiment, an exemplification of how this dataset can be used to evaluate an optimization algorithm is provided, namely, to optimize the control of a battery. Ultimately, it is shown that the simulator can generate energy community power demand and generation scenarios. The scenarios can be fully customized by the user, considering different sizes (power capacity) and numbers of assets, and diverse generation/consumption characteristics. The datasets generated by PROCSIM can be useful for different purposes, such as optimal scheduling of EC generation resources and consumption flexibility, and for designing battery energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) suturing demands advanced surgical skills. Therefore, it is important these skills are adequately trained and assessed. Assessment and feedback can consist of judgments and scores of expert observers or objective parameters using instrument tracking. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent objective parameters correspond to expert assessment. Methods: Participants performed an intracorporeal suturing task on the EoSim simulator repeatedly (maximum 20 repetitions) during training. The best discriminating parameters, which previously shown construct validation, were combined into a composite score, using regression analysis. All videos were blinded and assessed by 2 independent reviewers using the validated laparoscopic suturing competency assessment tool (LS-CAT). These scores were compared with the composite score. Results: A 100 videos of 16 trainees, during separate points on their learning curve, and 8 experts were used. The parameters "time" and "distance" were statistically significantly correlated with all LS-CAT domains. The composite score (calculated from "time" and "distance") showed improvement between the first and the last knot (57% versus 94%, P < .001). Also the LS-CAT score improved (28 versus 17, P < .001). However, the correlation of the composite score with the LS-CAT score was weak (R: 0.351), with an accuracy of 55/100 when pooling the outcomes based on inadequate, adequate, or good performance. Conclusion: Instrument tracking parameters (using Surgtrac) could give an indication of the skill level, however, it missed important elements, essential for reliable assessment. Therefore, expert assessment remains superior to determine the skill level in MIS suturing skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of dredging is to maintain the required depth of harbors and marine and inland waterways. Any investment work in port infrastructure should be planned in such a way as to minimize interference with the port operations and vessel traffic. The research aims to analyze work scenarios involving a proposed dredging fleet using a Navi-Trainer Professional 5000 navigational and maneuvering simulator connected to the Transas Navi-Sailor 4000 navigation information system. An analysis performed using these electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) simulators allows the operational parameters of the dredging project to be determined. These parameters include driving time, time taken to fill a TSHD dredger to full capacity, scale of maneuverability of the dredger within the port area, and determination of the safe distance between dredging vessels and other ships. The proposed solution may be supplemented with additional computer-based programs, providing a valuable tool in the research and monitoring of planned and current dredging projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastering a surgical skill requires experience and repetition, yet opportunities for surgical trainees to gain real experience are variable and limited by case load. Surgical simulators have emerged in an attempt to overcome these limitations. However, the few currently available skills simulators for flexible endoscopy are costly, have limited accessibility and versatility, lack portability, and require dedicated time for practice. The use of a portable skills simulator to teach flexible endoscopy may provide a feasible alternative. This study introduces a novel, low-cost, portable, endoscopic simulation system for training basic endoscopic skills. Using custom software, the simulator presents a virtual environment featuring 3D models of anatomy, endoscopes, and endoscopic tools. The virtual endoscope and its tools are directly controlled in the simulation by motion input from a custom-manufactured portable endoscopic controller that communicates data via a Bluetooth interface. This two-part study presents proof of concept and initial pilot data examining the face/content validity and preliminary construct validity of the portable endoscopic simulator. In part 1, experts (n = 2) and novices (n = 6) provided ratings of fidelity and utility as a training tool. In part 2, experts (n = 4) and novices (n = 4) completed 10 simulated sequential basic endoscopic tasks, and time to completion was assessed. Findings indicate that the simulator has good utility as a training tool, but some features require modification to be more realistic. Furthermore, both novices and experts improved on the task with repeated measurements (p < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between experts and novices in time to completion. Although more robust validation is required, this simulator appears promising as a feasible and cost-effective tool for providing simulation training on basic endoscopic skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems have become critical for companies to save a lot of time and money and connectivity more important than ever in the era of Industry 4.0. That’s why organizations are looking for integrated platforms that can simulate industrial traffic between different locations around the globe. The present work succeeded in simulating data and information traffic through SCADA systems, within the SAFEPIC – 19 project, carried out in different scenarios using SCADA controller simulators (“PLC ladder controller” emulators and communication using Modbus/TCP protocols), “Reconnaissance” attack simulators by scanning addresses and ports to discover vulnerable ports, “Command injection” attack simulators, “Denial of Service” attack simulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boom-type roadheaders are commonly used for excavation of roadways in underground mines, tunnels, and other architectural structures using trenchless techniques, as well as sinking shafts and occasionally excavating the harder soil and softer formations in cut and cover construction. The main research and development of these machines is to offer solutions for automatic control. This refers to automation or robotization of the operation, and raises the possibility of their eventual unmanned operation. This article presents a roadheader research simulator which implements experimentally verified mathematical models describing the dynamics of a roadheader in operation and the rock cutting process. Due to very high computational requirements, a distributed system comprising several workstations connected via TCP/IP was used. Both the visualization of the roadheader in the heading face of the excavation and the graphic simulation of the course of the rock-cutting process were carried out using the Autodesk Inventor Professional 2022 graphics engine. It provided the simulator with a virtual scene environment and enabled the control of the roadheader model's movement during the simulated cutting process, including the generation of breakout graphics in the heading face while drilling a roadway or tunnel. The presented roadheader simulator enables the determination of various time characteristics, for example, dynamic loads, power demand, efficiency, energy consumption, and others. It is still under development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: With the recognition of animals as sentient beings and the growing research in the field of animal welfare the use of live animals for scientific purposes and education has been under question. The present paper focused on the legal framework for the protection of animals used for research and education while giving examples on their replacement with alternative methods in undergraduate veterinary courses. METHODS: Analysis is made on the implemented legal framework which lays down the requirement for animal protection and specifically the 3Rs principles for animal experimentation. Additionally, a short literature review is made to identify the most common educational approaches used to replace live animals in veterinary training. RESULTS: Based on the review we identified common ethical dilemmas for animal use in education like ethically sourced cadavers, continuous tests and manipulations during the process of training of veterinary students and presented as well some examples on alternatives like simulators, artificial models and digital resources. CONCLUSIONS: Through the development and implementation of modern educational resources aimed at the replacement of live animals with non-animal alternatives veterinary students could benefit in their studies both in terms of solving ethical issues regarding animal use and in gaining self-confidence, improvement of skills, and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous and mobile cyber-physical machines are becoming an inevitable part of our future. In particular, Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) have seen a resurgence in activity. With multiple use cases, such as surveillance, search and rescue, package delivery, and more, these unmanned aerial systems are on the cusp of demonstrating their full potential. Despite such promises, these systems face many challenges, one of the most prominent of which is their low endurance caused by their limited onboard energy. Since the success of a mission depends on whether the drone can finish it within such duration and before it runs out of battery, improving both the time and energy associated with the mission are of high importance. Such improvements have traditionally been arrived at through the use of better algorithms. But our premise is that more powerful and efficient onboard compute can also address the problem. In this article, we investigate how the compute subsystem, in a cyber-physical mobile machine such as a Micro Aerial Vehicle, can impact mission time (time to complete a mission) and energy. Specifically, we pose the question as what is the role of computing for cyber-physical mobile robots? We show that compute and motion are tightly intertwined, and as such a close examination of cyber and physical processes and their impact on one another is necessary. We show different "impact paths" through which compute impacts mission metrics and examine them using a combination of analytical models, simulation, and micro and end-to-end benchmarking. To enable similar studies, we open sourced MAVBench, our tool-set, which consists of (1) a closed-loop real-time feedback simulator and (2) an end-to-end benchmark suite composed of state-of-the-art kernels. By combining MAVBench, analytical modeling, and an understanding of various compute impacts, we show up to 2X and 1.8X improvements for mission time and mission energy for two optimization case studies, respectively. Our investigations, as well as our optimizations, show that cyber-physical co-design, amethodology with which both the cyber and physical processes/quantities of the robot are developed with consideration of one another, similar to hardware-software co-design, is necessary for arriving at the design of the optimal robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nowadays, inter‐vehicle and intra‐vehicle communication triggers the development of safety and non‐safety applications in Vehicular Adhoc NETworks (VANET). These applications need to be evaluated before the actual implementation. The performance of these applications is generally evaluated through indispensable tools such as simulators, emulators, and testbeds. Although simulators, emulators, and testbeds are available as open‐source or proprietary for VANET applications, finding the correct tool for the experiment is intriguing and challenging from the researcher's perspective. In this paper, our focus is to provide a comprehensive survey on the existing simulators, emulators, and real time testbeds based on technical specifications, capabilities, etc. To the best of our knowledge, there is no such an exhaustive survey that exists in the literature. Further, we developed a real time low‐cost VANET testbed on our institute campus to implement the VANET related projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open in new tab Download slide Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to systematically review the simulators that are currently available for coronary artery bypass graft and valve surgery and, in addition, to review the validation evidence supporting them and to recommend several simulators for training based on the analysis of results. METHODS A systematic literature search of the MEDLINE® (1946 to May 2021) and EMBASE® (1947 to May 2021) databases was performed to identify simulators for coronary artery and valvular procedures in cardiothoracic surgery. A selection of keywords and MeSH terms was used to execute the literature search. After identification of relevant articles, data were extracted and analysed. RESULTS Thirty-seven simulators were found in 31 articles. Simulators were found for coronary artery bypass graft (n  = 24) and valve surgery (n  = 13). The majority of models were either benchtop (n  = 28) or hybrid (n  = 8) modalities. Evidence of validity was demonstrated in 15 (40.5%) simulators. Twenty-two (59.5%) simulators had no validation evidence, and 1 (2.7%) simulator had 3 or more elements of validity established. CONCLUSIONS Two simulators were recommended for supplemental training in cardiothoracic surgery. Low-fidelity models can provide a broad foundation for surgical skills' development whereas high-fidelity simulators can be used for immersive training scenarios and appraisals. These should be utilized in early training, at which point the learning curve of trainees is steepest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High performance computing data is surging fast into the exabyte-scale world, where tape libraries are the main platform for long-term durable data storage besides high-cost DNA. Tape libraries are extremely hard to model, but accurate modeling is critical for system administrators to obtain valid performance estimates for their designs. This research introduces a discrete–event tape simulation platform that realistically models tape library behavior in a networked cloud environment, by incorporating real-world phenomena and effects. The platform addresses several challenges, including precise estimation of data access latency, rates of robot exchange, data collocation, deduplication/compression ratio, and attainment of durability goals through replication or erasure coding. Using the proposed simulator, one can compare the single enterprise configuration with multiple commodity library configurations, making it a useful tool for system administrators and reliability engineers. This makes the simulator a valuable tool for system administrators and reliability engineers, enabling them to acquire practical and dependable performance estimates for their enduring, cost-efficient cold data storage architecture designs. • A realistic (discrete–event) tape library-based cloud system simulator is proposed. • In the simulator, one can employ multiple libraries to provide distributed archival backend. • An analysis on read-latency has been conducted to motivate for the simulator. • Comparative analyses evaluate distributed systems v.s. centralized single-library systems. • The presented simulation platform serves as a valuable design tool for reliability engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blast furnace (BF) process is highly complex, involving multiple phases (gases, granular solids, liquids, and powders) undergoing various chemical and physical phenomena. Any improvement in BF productivity under a given set of operating conditions necessitates a better gas flow distribution through a layered burden structure in the BF. However, it is extremely difficult to directly measure or predict the internal flows in a BF. The main zone of unstable motion in a BF is generally the cohesive zone. Herein, the cause of unstable behavior in a BF is investigated by directly observing the behavior of the cohesive zone using a BF irregularity simulator. It is found that the shape of the cohesive zone is directly influenced by the blast conditions and the height of the deadman, as well as varied change. As the blast volume increased, the height of the top level of the cohesive zone increased and the change in the temperature profile of the cohesive zone according to the difference in blast volume. Thus, it is possible to understand and estimate the unstable motion in a BF under operation by observing the real‐time behavior of the burden, using a BF irregularity simulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) surgical simulation is the latest addendum to the surgical skills laboratory, and it makes inferences about levels of surgical performance by measuring motion, efficiency, errors and time taken to perform a task. The high costs associated with acquiring these simulators have limited the universal availability of such trainers across institutions in our country. This study aims to validate an indigenously designed Indian virtual reality simulation-based trainer as a valuable tool in surgical training. The performance parameters of ten laparoscopic basic surgical skill tasks were analysed. These included deviation from the desired path (error), total distance traversed in performing the task (distance in mm) and total time taken to complete the task (task completion time in seconds). One hundred seventy tasks performed by novices and 100 by experts were included for comparative analyses. Significant difference was found with regard to distance traversed by instruments (p value < 0.001) and total time for completion of a task (p value < 0.001) both of which were lesser in the group of tasks performed by experts. The distance traversed by instruments were higher amongst novices compared with experts. The task completion time was higher amongst novices in all the exercise except that of peritoneal layer peeling. These virtual reality-based simulators are a valid tool in surgical training that offer a wide range of exercises comparable to conventional trainers. These trainers analyse performance of the user as well as distinguish their level of expertise. This quality provides the added benefit of objective feedback of performance, thereby enabling a trainee to progress towards becoming a highly skilled laparoscopic surgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

different professional educational careers --empirically dominant-- are using simulation software to improve the hands-on-theoretical learning exercise of educational laboratories and experimental courses, under constructivist models to encourage active student participation. Research in different areas shows that simulators improve students' educational processes and promote an interactive and playful space motivating learning. This research proposes to develop a review of literature to describe the maturity status of experiences in the application of accounting simulators in vocational education. The results found, show that the simulator application in accounting is in an emerging process. The research articles found on the application of simulation software strategies in accounting education confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical simulation is particularly attractive because it allows training in a safe, controlled, and standardized environment. However, the status of surgical simulation among Departments of Surgery (DoS) in the United States is unknown. The objective of this study was to characterize the status of simulation-based training in DoS in the United States. A Qualtrics online survey was sent to 177 chairs of DoS in the United States in March 2018 regarding the utilization of surgical simulation in their department. Questions in the survey were focused on simulation capacities and activities as well as chairs' perception of the value and purpose of simulation. A total of 87 of 177 chairs responded to the survey (49% response rate). Most programs had either 20-50 trainees (42 of 87; 48%) or more than 50 trainees (37 of 87; 43%). Most chairs reported having a simulation center in their institution (85 of 87; 98%) or department (60 of 86; 70%) with a formal simulation curriculum for their trainees (83 of 87; 95%). Ninety percent (78 of 87) of DoS had protected time for simulation education for their residents, with most residents engaging in activities weekly or monthly (65 of 85; 76%). Although most chairs felt simulation improves patient safety (72 of 84; 86%) and is useful for practicing surgeons (68 of 84; 81%), only 40% reported that faculty use simulation to maintain technical skills and only 17% reported that faculty use simulation to address high complication rates. The vast majority of the DoS in the United States have established simulation activities for their trainees. However, engagement of faculty in simulation to maintain or improve their skills remains low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the construct validity of the low-cost, portable laparoscopic simulator eoSim using motion analysis. Material and methods: Novice and experienced surgeons (≤ 100 and >100 laparoscopic procedures performed, respectively) completed four tasks on the eoSim using the SurgTrac software: intracorporeal suture and tie, tube ligation, peg capping and precision cutting. The following metrics were recorded: Time to complete task, distance traveled, handedness (left- versus right hand use), time off-screen, distance between instrument tips, speed, acceleration and motion smoothness. Results: Compared to novices (n = 22), experienced surgeons (n = 14) completed tasks in less time (p ≤.025), except when performing peg capping (p =.052). On all tasks, they also scored lower on the distance metric (p ≤.001). Differences in handedness (left hand compared between groups, right hand compared between groups) were found to be significant for three tasks (p ≤.025). In general, the experienced group made greater use of their left hand than the novice group. Conclusion: The eoSim can differentiate between experienced and novice surgeons on the tasks intracorporeal suture and tie, tube ligation and precision cutting, thus providing a convenient method for surgical departments to implement testing of their surgeons' basic laparoscopic skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurosurgery is a challenging surgical specialty that demands many technical and cognitive skills. The traditional surgical training approach of having a trainee coached in the operating room by the faculty is time-consuming, costly, and involves patient risk factors. Simulation-based training methods are suitable to impart the surgical skills outside the operating room. Virtual simulators allow high-fidelity repeatable environment for surgical training. Neuroendoscopy, a minimally invasive neurosurgical technique, demands additional skills for limited maneuverability and eye-hand coordination. This study provides a review of the existing virtual reality simulators for training neuroendoscopic skills. Based on the screening, the virtual training methods developed for neuroendoscopy surgical skills were classified into endoscopic third ventriculostomy and endonasal transsphenoidal surgery trainers. The study revealed that a variety of virtual reality simulators have been developed by various institutions. Although virtual reality simulators are effective for procedure-based skills training, the simulators need to include anatomical variations and variety of cases for improved fidelity. The review reveals that there should be multi-centric prospective and retrospective cohort studies to establish concurrent and predictive validation for their incorporation in the surgical educational curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The A-type potassium current (IA) participates in important brain functions, including neuronal excitability, synaptic integration, and regulation of action potential patterns and firing frequency. Based on the characterization of its electrophysiological properties by current and voltage clamp techniques, mathematical models have been developed that reproduce IA function. For such models, it is necessary to numerically solve equations and utilize hardware with special speed and performance characteristics. Since specific software for studying IA is not found on the Internet, the aim of this work was to develop a set of simulators grouped into three computer programs: (1) IA Current, (2) IA Constant-V Curves and (3) IA AP Train. These simulators provide a virtual reproduction of experiments on neurons with the possibility of setting the current and voltage, which allows for the study of the electrophysiological and biophysical characteristics of IA and its effect on the train of action potentials. The mathematical models employed were derived from the work of Connor et al., giving rise to Hodgkin-Huxley type models. The programs were developed in Visual Basic® and the differential equation systems were simultaneously solved numerically. The resulting system represents a breakthrough in the ability to replicate IA activity in neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been considered as one of the fine research areas in recent years because of vital role in numerous applications. To process the extracted data and transmit it to the various location, a large number of nodes must be deployed in a proper way because deployment is one of the major issues in WSNs. Hence, the minimum number of node deployment to attain full coverage is of enormous significance for research. The prime agenda of the presented paper is to categorize various coverage techniques into four major parts: computational geometry-based techniques, force-based techniques, grid-based techniques, and metaheuristic-based techniques. Additionally, several comparisons amid these schemes are provided in view of their benefits and drawbacks. Our discussion weighs on the classification of coverage, practical challenges in the deployment of WSNs, sensing models, and research issues in WSNs. Moreover, a detailed analysis of performance metrics and comparison among various WSNs simulators is listed. In conclusion, standing research issues along with potential work guidelines are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the recent era, the security issues affecting the future Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) standards has fascinated noteworthy consideration from numerous research communities. In this view, numerous assessments in the form of surveys were proposed highlighting several future IoT‐centric subjects together with threat modeling, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and various emergent technologies. In contrast, in this article, we have focused exclusively on the emerging IoT‐related vulnerabilities. This article is a multi‐fold survey that emphasizes on understanding the crucial causes of novel vulnerabilities in IoT paradigms and issues in existing research. Initially, we have emphasized on different layers of IoT architecture and highlight various emerging security challenges associated with each layer along with the key issues of different IoT systems. Secondly, we discuss the exploitation, detection, and defense methodologies of IoT malware‐enabled distributed denial of service (DDoS), Sybil, and collusion attack capabilities. We have also discussed numerous state‐of‐the‐art strategies for intrusion detection and methods for IDS setup in future IoT systems. Third, we have presented a brief classification of existing IoT authentication protocols and a comparative analysis of such protocols based on different IoT‐enabled cyber attacks. For conducting a real‐time future IoT research, we have presented some emerging blockchain solutions. We have also discussed a comparative examination of some of the recently developed simulation tools and IoT test beds that are characterized based on different layers of IoT infrastructure. We have also outlined some of the open issues and future research directions and also facilitate the readers with broad classification of existing surveys in this domain that addresses several scopes related to the IoT paradigm. This survey article focuses in enabling IoT‐related research activities by comparing and merging scattered surveys in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A number of simulators have been developed for emulating next-generation sequencing data by incorporating known errors such as base substitutions and indels. However, their practicality may be degraded by functional and runtime limitations. Particularly, the positional and genomic contextual information is not effectively utilized for reliably characterizing base substitution patterns, as well as the positional and contextual difference of Phred quality scores is not fully investigated. Thus, a more effective and efficient bioinformatics tool is sorely required. Results: Here, we introduce a novel tool, SimuSCoP, to reliably emulate complex DNA sequencing data. The base substitution patterns and the statistical behavior of quality scores in Illumina sequencing data are fully explored and integrated into the simulation model for reliably emulating datasets for different applications. In addition, an integrated and easy-to-use pipeline is employed in SimuSCoP to facilitate end-to-end simulation of complex samples, and high runtime efficiency is achieved by implementing the tool to run in multithreading with low memory consumption. These features enable SimuSCoP to gets substantial improvements in reliability, functionality, practicality and runtime efficiency. The tool is comprehensively evaluated in multiple aspects including consistency of profiles, simulation of genomic variations and complex tumor samples, and the results demonstrate the advantages of SimuSCoP over existing tools. Conclusions: SimuSCoP, a new bioinformatics tool is developed to learn informative profiles from real sequencing data and reliably mimic complex data by introducing various genomic variations. We believe that the presented work will catalyse new development of downstream bioinformatics methods for analyzing sequencing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Simulation plays an important role in surgical training. We developed a simulator for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR) surgery based on porcine tissue, characterized by low cost and high reality. Methods: Our LVHR model is based on porcine tissue mounted in a human mannequin. The anterior abdominal wall is constructed to allow laparoscopic training. Training sessions are conducted in a simulated operating room environment. Results: During preliminary tests, the LVHR simulator was found to be highly realistic in terms of tissue feedback, instrumentation usage, and performing the key steps of the LVHR procedure. The model was evaluated as a very useful tool for residents' training allowing to gain laparoscopic skills, learn the key steps of LVHR, and practice team work. Conclusions: Our simulator, based on porcine tissue mounted in a mannequin, offers a very realistic and cost-effective model for simulating LVHR surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pilot scale batch size for solid oral dosage forms is currently defined by major regulatory agencies as one-tenth of the full production, or 100,000 units, whichever is larger. The current criterion is arbitrary and is not based on scientific and risk assessment principles. The approach does not consider geometric, kinematic, and dynamic changes that come into play on scale-up. Even if this criterion is met, impact of scale-up on critical quality attributes cannot be ruled out and also reproducibility cannot be assured simply by restricting the scale-up size. In keeping with the vision for the 21st Century Good Manufacturing Practice initiative to build quality into the product, it is imperative that the selection of scale-up batch size be based on science and risk assessment principles and be part of the product development program. Scale-up should never be seen as an isolated activity. This article will review various tools that can be integrated with quality by design for flexible batch size selection during scale-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of simulators and customized applications for educational use opens new possibilities in the teaching and learning process of the most varied disciplines through computermediated interactions (Buzato, 2006). In this context, teachers are developing digital material considering this powerful tool. And the use of educational apps and simulators has increased significantly with the spread of the internet in schools. However, the evaluation of the effectiveness of these applications is complex and incipient (Barroso, Felipe e Silva, 2006). This paper presents a proposed interface usability assessment for the use of simulators with elementary school students using a customized version of the PSSUQ, along with an evaluation by the cognitive walkthrough method (Wharton, Rieman, Lewis and Polson, 1990). The interface chosen was the simple pendulum simulator - part of the PhET simulations package. The results indicated satisfactory usability of the application, although some limitations and usability difficulties were found. Suggestions for applications, future research and recommendations are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study examined the effects of simulated and actual vessel motion at high seas on task load and surgical performance.Methods: This project was performed in phases. Phase I was a feasibility study. Phase II utilized a motion base simulator to replicate vessel motion. Phase III was conducted aboard the U.S. Naval Ship Brunswick. After performing surgical tasks on a surgical simulation mannequin, participants completed the Surgical Task Load Index (TLX) designed to collect workload data. Simulated surgeries were evaluated by subject matter experts.Results: TLX scores were higher in Phase III than Phase II, particularly at higher sea states. Surgical performance was not significantly different between Phase II (84%) and Phase III (89%). Simulated motions were comparable in both phases.Conclusions: Simulated motion was not associated with a significant difference in surgical performance or deck motion, suggesting that this simulator replicates the conditions experienced during surgery at sea on the U.S. Naval Ship Brunswick. However, Surgical TLX scores were dramatically different between the two phases, suggesting increased workload at sea, which may be the result of time at sea, the stress of travel, or other factors. Surgical performance was not affected by sea state in either phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current state of the experimental radiation installation of the INR of NAS of Ukraine at the last stage of its adaptation to the implementation of complex functional tests of electromechanical and electrical equipment from the list of critical and important for reliable operation of nuclear facilities for resistance to operating conditions of nuclear power plants is analyzed. The task of this stage is to imitate the radiation operating conditions of equipment operation in the pressure zone of the energy reactors in the reaction chamber of the installation. The development of technical means for the formation in the reaction chamber of installation of standard values of pure and mixed radiation fields is considered. This paper discloses the results of the final (“radiation") phase of the creation of a research complex (simulator) at the INR to solve the current problems of increasing reliability in the nuclear power industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To demonstrate the landscape of model-based economic studies in asthma and highlight where there is room for improvement in the design and reporting of studies.Design: A systematic review of the methodologies of model-based, cost-effectiveness analyses of asthma-related interventions was conducted. Models were evaluated for adherence to best-practice modeling and reporting guidelines and assumptions about the natural history of asthma.Methods: A systematic search of English articles was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and citations within reviewed articles. Studies were summarized and evaluated based on their adherence to the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS). We also studied the underlying assumptions about disease progression, heterogeneity in disease course, comorbidity, and treatment effects.Results: Forty-five models of asthma were included (33 Markov models, 10 decision trees, 2 closed-form equations). Novel biological treatments were evaluated in 12 studies. Some of the CHEERS' reporting recommendations were not satisfied, especially for models published in clinical journals. This was particularly the case for the choice of the modeling framework and reporting on heterogeneity. Only 13 studies considered any subgroups, and 2 explicitly considered the impact of comorbidities. Adherence to CHEERS requirements and the quality of models generally improved over time.Conclusion: It would be difficult to replicate the findings of contemporary model-based evaluations of asthma-related interventions given that only a minority of studies reported the essential parameters of their studies. Current asthma models generally lack consideration of disease heterogeneity and do not seem to be ready for evaluation of precision medicine technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The means or resources applicable to teaching are active components in the process of teaching and learning. In medicine, throughout history, the patient is the fundamental teaching medium of the physician. Objective: To provide an update on the role of teaching resources in anesthesiology and resuscitation. Development: The means of teaching are elaborated in the stages linked to the sensory phase of scientific knowledge, whether abstract or concrete. It is obtained through sensations and perceptions of the sense organs and the rational phase of abstract knowledge. There are various theories of learning that are generally structured on the basis of the theory of knowledge and personality. The objectives of the teaching media are determined by social needs and requirements. The means of teaching respond to what is taught. They are the resources that support the methods to their material support. It is very difficult in practice to separate the selection of methods and the selection of teaching resources. Both constitute a dialectical unit, closely related. In anesthesiology, the use of models, mannequins and simulation help the resident build skills, before treating the patient. Conclusions: The means of teaching constitute a source of inestimable value for the student to verify reality and for the teacher to demonstrate it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: New training methods such as simulation have been introduced in cardiology as in other specialties; however, the development of effective simulation-based training programs is challenging. They are often unstructured and based on convenience or coincidence. The objective of this study was to perform a nationwide general needs assessment to identify and prioritize technical procedures that should be included in a simulation-based curriculum for cardiology residency in Denmark.Design: We completed a needs assessment using the Delphi method among key opinion leaders in cardiology. Brainstorming in round 1 identified technical procedures that future cardiologists should learn. Round 2 was a survey to examine frequency of procedure, number of cardiologists performing the procedure, operator-related risk and/or discomfort for patients and feasibility for simulation. Round 3 was final elimination and prioritization of procedures.Results: Ninety-four key opinion leaders were included, and the response rates were 77% (round 1), 62% (Round 2), and 68% (Round 3). Twenty-four technical procedures were identified in Round 1 and pre-prioritized in Round 2. In round 3, 13 procedures were included in the final prioritized list. The five highly prioritized procedures eligible for simulation-based training were advanced life support, pleurocentesis, transesophageal echocardiography, coronary angiography, and pericardiocentesis.Conclusion: The general needs assessment following the Delphi process identified and prioritized 13 technical procedures in cardiology that should be integrated in a simulation-based curriculum. The final list provides educators a guide when developing simulation-based training programmes for cardiology residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal reservoirs are renewable energy resources and they are treated as very valuable due to their high pressure and high enthalpy contents. Geothermal fluid stored in the reservoir is used for electricity production, central heating, greenhouse heating and for balyneological purposes. Fluid production from such reservoirs triggers hydrodynamic and hydrothermal mechanisms and causes fluid movement and heat transfer in the reservoirs. Modeling studies start with defining these mechanisms by differential equations and help investigating response of reservoirs to alternative production scenarios and hence obtain sustainable management of such systems. Fundamental studies for geothermal reservoir simulation require formulation of the mechanisms and application of boundary and initial conditions and the physical parameters obtained from conceptual model of the geothermal system. Geothermal reservoir modeling studies date back to 1970s and several geothermal reservoirs in the world have been simulated to determine optimum and sustainable production policies. This paper summarizes the basic principles of geothermal reservoir modeling and introduces basic differential equations and explains mysteries of the reservoir simulators nowadays widely used in the geothermal industry. The numerically simulated geothermal fields and the related countries are also summarized together with the references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study validates the performance of the TIssue MEtabolism Simulator (TIMES) genotoxicity models with data on pesticide chemicals included in a recently released European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) genotoxicity database. The EFSA database is biased towards negative chemicals. A comparison of substances included in the EFSA database and TIMES genotoxicity databases showed that the majority of the EFSA pesticides is not included in the TIMES genotoxicity databases and, thus, out of the applicability domains of the current TIMES models. However, the EFSA genotoxicity database provides an opportunity to expand the TIMES models. Where there is overlap of substances, consistency between EFSA and TIMES databases for the chemicals with documented data is found to be high (>80%) with respect to the Ames data and lower than the Ames data with respect to chromosomal aberration (CA) and mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) data. No conclusion for consistency with respect to micronucleus test and comet genotoxicity data can be provided due to the limited number of overlapping substances. Specificity of the models is important, given the prevalence of negative genotoxicity data in the EFSA database. High specificity (>80%) is obtained for prediction of the EFSA pesticides with Ames data. Moreover, this high specificity of the TIMES Ames models is not dependant on pesticides being within the domains. Specificity of the TIMES CA and MLA models is lower (>40%) to pesticides for out of domain. Sensitivity of TIMES in vitro and in vivo models cannot be properly estimated due to the small number of positive chemicals in the EFSA database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this paper is to characterize and compare different network simulators, to establish the most appropriate network simulation tool, based on user needs. A series of useful parameters in network simulation for each analyzed tool, such as the type of use, the type of license required, the learning curve, the operative system required, the type of graphic results, the technologies in level 2 and 3 available, and type of network traffic allowed to simulate are defined. This information was summarized in a matrix that links each simulator and the relevant characteristics. The table allows any user to choose a network simulator, considering its context and the simulator goal. The most relevant factors for selecting a simulation tool is the learning curve and the type of license. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Increased restrictions on working hours and the resultant decrease in theater time coupled with greater scrutiny to demonstrate proficiency at surgical tasks has resulted in the incorporation of simulators for surgical training. This literature review describes the use of cadaveric simulators in postgraduate neurosurgical training, with the aim to analyze their effectiveness in improving surgical performance. Methods An electronic literature search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted to identify studies that look at the efficacy of cadaveric simulation in neurosurgical training. Studies that were eligible were those that assessed either objectively or subjectively the effectiveness of human cadaver models in cranial or spinal neurosurgical training. Studies that did not assess efficacy on training, looked at animal cadavers, or noncadaveric simulators were excluded. Results Twelve studies were deemed to meet the eligibility criteria. Only 4 of the studies used objective measures to assess the effectiveness of cadaveric simulators on training. Most studies reported a positive impact of cadaveric simulators on training. Conclusions Most studies identified in this review failed to provide strong objective evidence for effectiveness in achieving competency and good outcomes in the theatres. Lack of use of validated skills assessment tools prevented studies from associating cadaveric training with improvement in operating skills. Future studies should aim to address these shortcomings and focus on validating cadaveric simulation, ensuring only those that improve performance of both technical and nontechnical skills are pursued. Highlights • Human cadaveric simulators have a positive impact on neurosurgical training. • There is a lack of objective evidence for effectiveness in neurosurgical training. • Future models must be assessed with validated skills assessment tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect from the introduction of an interactive form of learning in the study of engineering disciplines is examined, as well as factors that decrease the effectiveness of the results of using modern computer training aids (simulators). Virtual laboratory works are described that are used at the department "Machines and equipment of the oil and gas industry" of the Industrial University of Tyumen in studying general engineering and special disciplines of the area "Oil and gas engineering", profile "Operation and maintenance of technological facilities of oil and gas production". Based on the experience of using simulators at the department, it was concluded that the greatest effect of achieving the required knowledge, abilities, and skills was obtained by using simulators in the form of virtual laboratory works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of artisanal simulators to teach veterinary and medical students the ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy using a tru-cut needle. The artisanal simulators consisted of bovine liver between two layers of commercially available grape gelatin. Students were paired, with one doing the biopsy and the other the ultrasound guidance. After performing the biopsies, each student answered a questionnaire with close-ended questions using a visual analog scale. The evaluated items were realism of the model, liver scanning, procedure instructions, biopsy feasibility, tru-cut needle handling, technique learning, and confidence to perform in vivo procedures. Items that received a score of 7 or higher were considered strong items; items with a score between 5 and 6.9 were classified as average items; and items with a score of 5 or lower were considered weak items. The answers to all questions had an average score of 7 or higher, suggesting that the simulator was classified as strong for all of the evaluated items. Answers to question 7 suggested that some of the students did not develop confidence to perform a tru-cut biopsy on a patient. Students evaluated the artisanal simulator as a strong method to be used in ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy with a tru-cut needle. Additionally, the model presented a low cost of production and was proven accurate to teach biopsy skills in health professional schools dealing with veterinary or human medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean and water basically cover the major parts of our planet. To obtain the best utilization of the underlying resources on these parts of the Earth, people have made some research advancements. Specifically, the research on underwater wireless acoustic sensor networks (UWA-SNs) has made great progress. However, wide deployment of UWA-SNs is far from a reality due to several reasons. One important reason is that offshore deployment and field-level experiments of ocean-centric applications are both expensive and labor intensive. Other alternatives to attain this objective are to conduct simulation or experimentation that can reduce cost and accelerate the research activities and their outcomes. However, designing efficient and reliable simulation and experimentation platforms have proven to be more challenging beyond the expectation. In this article, we explore the main techniques (including their pros and cons) and components to develop simulation and experimentation platforms and provide a comprehensive survey report in this area. We classify simulation and experimentation platforms based on some typical criteria and then provide useful guidelines for researchers on choosing suitable platforms in accordance with their requirements. Finally, we address some open and un-resolved issues in this context and provide some suggestions on future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the International Benchmarking of Longitudinal Train Dynamics Simulators which involved participation of nine simulators (TABLDSS, UM, CRE-LTS, TDEAS, PoliTo, TsDyn, CARS, BODYSIM and VOCO) from six countries. Longitudinal train dynamics results and computing time of four simulation cases are presented and compared. The results show that all simulators had basic agreement in simulations of locomotive forces, resistance forces and track gradients. The major differences among different simulators lie in the draft gear models. TABLDSS, UM, CRE-LTS, TDEAS, TsDyn and CARS had general agreement in terms of the in-train forces; minor differences exist as reflections of draft gear model variations. In-train force oscillations were observed in VOCO due to the introduction of wheel–rail contact. In-train force instabilities were sometimes observed in PoliTo and BODYSIM due to the velocity controlled transitional characteristics which could have generated unreasonable transitional stiffness. Regarding computing time per train operational second, the following list is in order of increasing computing speed: VOCO, TsDyn, PoliTO, CARS, BODYSIM, UM, TDEAS, CRE-LTS and TABLDSS (fastest); all simulators except VOCO, TsDyn and PoliTo achieved faster speeds than real-time simulations. Similarly, regarding computing time per integration step, the computing speeds in order are: CRE-LTS, VOCO, CARS, TsDyn, UM, TABLDSS and TDEAS (fastest). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]