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Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The NeuroToolKit Data Hackathon brought together researchers, biostatisticians, data scientists, and clinicians to collaborate on Alzheimer's disease research. Using the NeuroToolKit Application (NTKApp) and other statistical analysis tools, participants explored datasets and identified modifiable risk factors associated with biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease. The NTKApp is a collaborative analytics tool that allows users to upload, curate, analyze, and compare biomarker datasets and results. It aims to improve collaboration and interpretation of neurologically relevant immunoassay data and has the potential to inform the development of biomarkers for diagnostic tests and aid in clinical trials and practice. The app is continuously updated based on user feedback and will expand to include additional biomarkers and diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Campus Virtuales is the property of Campus Virtuales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, large in-person conferences were mostly cancelled to avoid further disease contagion. Physicians continued to demand changes in form to enable participation in lifelong medical education programs, and the traditional model of in-person conferences needed to be rethought. As such, a regional branch of the national orthopedic association tried to move in-person conferences onto a virtual platform. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transitioning large in-person conferences to a virtual model during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially examining any differences in the attendance of each type of conference. Methods In this retrospective observational study, 776 participants in virtual conferences and 575 participants in in-person conferences were analyzed. Institutions were classified based on their location in a central city and two neighboring cities. Affiliated institutions were divided into resident training hospitals, general hospitals, and private clinics. The change in the number and proportion of participants between the virtual conference year and in-person conference year was calculated. Results The number of virtual conference participants was significantly greater than that of in-person conference participants (P = 0.01). Although the highest number of participants was from central city for both years, the proportion of participants from the two neighboring cities increased. Although the proportion of participants from resident training hospitals and private clinics decreased, the proportion of participants from general hospitals increased. Conclusions We implemented a virtual platform to tackle challenges associated with lifelong medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual platforms can be helpful for organizations that must hold regular lifelong medical education programs for members spread across a wide geographic region.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, large in-person conferences were mostly cancelled to avoid further disease contagion. Physicians continued to demand changes in form to enable participation in lifelong medical education programs, and the traditional model of in-person conferences needed to be rethought. As such, a regional branch of the national orthopedic association tried to move in-person conferences onto a virtual platform. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transitioning large in-person conferences to a virtual model during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially examining any differences in the attendance of each type of conference. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 776 participants in virtual conferences and 575 participants in in-person conferences were analyzed. Institutions were classified based on their location in a central city and two neighboring cities. Affiliated institutions were divided into resident training hospitals, general hospitals, and private clinics. The change in the number and proportion of participants between the virtual conference year and in-person conference year was calculated. Results: The number of virtual conference participants was significantly greater than that of in-person conference participants (P = 0.01). Although the highest number of participants was from central city for both years, the proportion of participants from the two neighboring cities increased. Although the proportion of participants from resident training hospitals and private clinics decreased, the proportion of participants from general hospitals increased. Conclusions: We implemented a virtual platform to tackle challenges associated with lifelong medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual platforms can be helpful for organizations that must hold regular lifelong medical education programs for members spread across a wide geographic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to determine the feasibility of a virtual NET intervention for caregivers to promote positive interactions between caregivers and autistic children. Weekly,12 dyads participated in 30-minute group ZoomsVR in addition to a prerecorded video and a five questions knowledge check through an online module. Post-intervention, participants completed a semi-structured interview. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test demonstrated statistical significance between pre-and-post scores on the FMI (z=2.041, p = .041) with a large effect size (r = .42). The ease and convenience of the intervention were supported in the three thematic categories as defined by caregiver perspectives and intervention documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Medical education has evolved remarkably during the last decade whereby the conventional large lecture halls, long didactic presentations, and textbooks have been replaced by smaller groups with a mentor–mentee pairing coupled with technological advances that permit a more intimate and yet comprehensive learning experience. The purpose of this review is to summarize the novel models of education and serve as a reference for educators. Recent Findings: In the wake of a global pandemic, coronavirus-19 infection, higher education replaced conventional lecture hall formats with novel methods that are not face-to-face classes ushering in a new era of medical education. Recent studies have shown that social media has gradually emerged as an essential ancillary educational tool in cardiology. These studies recommend the integration of social media as well as other remote learning tools such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and smart glasses into the standard bedside and didactic curricula. However, educators will need research-based guidelines to inform instructional planning and implementation that ensure adequate exposure and fulfillment of the necessary competency requirements. Summary: The current role of social media, medical computer software applications, online tools, and virtual platforms and technology play a valuable role in modern-day cardiology training. This review examines each of these tools' advantages and disadvantages as well as the notable gap in knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses whether it is possible to use technology to train democratic values. The response presented is developed through a story detailing institutional experiences in educational innovation. After a literature review on the subject, to identify proposals within various instructional design models, a suitable model was selected and the elements within it that facilitate the design of an educational platform aimed at training children in the values of democracy, participation and peaceful coexistence were identified. It concludes with the adoption of Jonassen's model, which proposes a critical use of technology in educational tasks. Finally, a reflection on the relationship between education, technology and society is offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: The Epidemic Act invoked during COVID-19 pandemic restricted the use of traditional methods of face-to-face teaching and learning and entailed a drastic transition of teaching histology by the time-tested traditional mode in the laboratory to that on a virtual platform. Implementation of this virtual platform as the teaching methodology in histology which evolved as a result of the pandemic can now be continued as an important new teaching-learning modality even after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. Hence, this article explores the effect of the use of appropriate technology on students for teaching and learning. Materials & Methods: The study undertaken at Department of Anatomy, Goa Medical College employed a non-interventional (cross-sectional) design. First year medical students participating in the online histology sessions were subjects in this study (n=144). The data collected comprised of perceptions regarding the new teaching-learning study tool which were recorded as a self-administered questionnaire imparted to them through a Google form. The responses were analyzed using chi-square test and p-values were obtained using SPSS. Results: Results indicated that virtual teaching provided the students with accessibility, flexibility, additional data and better retention of concepts. But the students ultimately were of the opinion that virtual teaching followed by laboratory teaching was the most preferred approach to learning. This preference of the integrated approach used in this study as compared to traditional classroom teaching was confirmed and found to be statistically significant as the p- value was 0.001<0.05. Conclusion: While the study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the newly implemented integrated method as a preferred tool in current day teaching-learning versus the traditional teaching method, it also highlights the potential grey areas faced by the students using this virtual learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses whether it is possible to use technology to train democratic values. The response presented is developed through a story detailing institutional experiences in educational innovation. After a literature review on the subject, to identify proposals within various instructional design models, a suitable model was selected and the elements within it that facilitate the design of an educational platform aimed at training children in the values of democracy, participation and peaceful coexistence were identified. It concludes with the adoption of Jonassen’s model, which proposes a critical use of technology in educational tasks. Finally, a reflection on the relationship between education, technology and society is offered.

Background In today’s business environment, information security and availability are critical to the success of SMEs. This article presents research that addresses the challenges of security and availability of information in sales registration faced by SMEs worldwide. The main objective was to implement a virtual platform for the sales process in SMEs in San Vicente de Cañete, taking into consideration information security standards to preserve user data. Methods The development of the system was divided into five phases: Initiation, Planning, Implementation, Review and Launch. After implementation, an efficient sales process was achieved, guaranteeing the security and availability of information, and optimising management in an agile and secure manner. Results In addition, the virtual platform improves the purchasing experience by allowing the generation of reports and revenue management through a dashboard, promoting the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in SMEs. Conclusions In conclusion, the research implemented a virtual platform for sales in SMEs, ensuring the security and availability of information. It improved management with reports and a control panel, encouraging the use of ICTs in these companies.

The wind turbine components are bulky and costly. Undergraduate students majoring in wind power cannot achieve professional skills training in the laboratory. To deepen the understanding of wind turbine installation, a virtual simulation platform for the teaching exploration of wind turbine assembly practice course is developed. The goal of the platform is to build a virtual simulation installation process of each huge component of the wind turbine through the model, so that students can experience the experiential learning of the installation of the wind turbine, and experience the learning opportunities of the visualization of parts and the operability of the assembly process, so as to lay the foundation of wind power engineering practice for undergraduate students. The teaching of simulation working process based on wind turbine assembly process and performance characteristics is discussed. The results and questionnaires of students in three classes are counted. The teaching experiment shows that the average score of the experimental group is 4.5 points higher than that of the control group. This method can significantly improve students' interest in learning and academic performance, improve students' wind turbine assembly ability, and meet the actual needs of students majoring in wind power. The research shows that the platform can be effectively used as a practical teaching tool for wind power students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Formación Universitaria is the property of Centro de Informacion Tecnologica (CIT) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) has been developed rapidly and has been widely used in various fields. To achieve the ultimate goal of improving the efficiency of warehouse operation, this article studies the problem of goods locationallocation on the premise of a comprehensive analysis of the efficiency of automated warehouses and the overall stability of shelves. The mathematical model is established. Traditional Tabu search algorithms depend on Tabu table construction to avoid multiple continuous cycles that may occur in the direct search process. In this article, the improved algorithm can directly search and store in the Tabu table to prevent the algorithm from infinite search. A complete solution in that Tabu list continues to be passed to act as a point solution to replace the iteratively update product until a set iteration interval of the product is completed. The machine learning system can get the optimal solution. The improved algorithm is applied to solve the model, and the running results and the performance of the algorithm itself are obtained. The improved Tabu Search algorithm has more advantages in the process of solving the model because it reduces the size of the whole problem. The algorithm also uses the penalty optimization function as a measure of each solution. The greater the penalty is, the worse the solution is, and the smaller the penalty is, the better the solution is. The operation process of the material in and out of the warehouse in one day is studied, and the validity of the optimization scheme of goods location allocation is verified by substituting specific data for the solution. Finally, the case of goods in and out of the warehouse is simulated by using simulation software, and the running state and efficiency of the stacker are displayed according to the data. The Tabu direct search table is combined with the structure and function of the principle of amnesty direct search to achieve the goal of direct search and decisionmaking. The equilibrium coefficient of its operation is calculated by using the data, which proves that the scheme is feasible and has practical significance and research value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In today’s world, the abundance of data in many areas of society has increased the need to use efficient technological tools to analyse, accurately and clearly present information. The objective was to develop a virtual platform to increase efficiency in the control of medical records (MR) and reduce errors in the recording of clinical data. To improve the quality of medical care in public health centres. Method The research used a methodology that follows a four-stage process for the development of the medical records management software. It started with planning where the user stories and their priority were defined. In the design phase, the system architecture and code structure were developed. Subsequently, in the coding phase, pair programming with incremental implementation was emphasised. Finally, in the testing phase, automatic and manual integration tests were carried out, documented by means of acceptance tests to ensure the quality of the developed software. Results The web-based platform has led to a significant increase in the number of patients seen, resulting in significant improvements in resource management at the health centres. In addition, the reduction in the incidence of errors highlights the superior accuracy in recording and tracking medical information, promoting a safer and more efficient care environment for patients. Conclusions The main focus of this study is the management of medical records, with the aim of reducing the time spent on registration, ensuring secure access to information, reducing documentation errors and facilitating instant data retrieval through a web-based platform. The results show the effectiveness of this methodology and its positive impact on the management of medical records.

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic resulted in redeployment of non-critical care-trained providers to intensive care units across the world. Concurrently, traditional venues for delivery of medical education faced major disruptions. The need for a virtual forum to fill knowledge gaps for healthcare workers caring for patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was apparent in the early stages of the pandemic. Objective: The weekly, open-access COVID-19 Critical Care Training Forum (CCCTF) organized by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) provided a global audience access to timely content relevant to their learning needs. The goals of the forum were threefold: to aid healthcare providers in assessment and treatment of patients with COVID-19, to reduce provider anxiety, and to disseminate best practices. Methods: The first 13 ATS CCCTF sessions streamed live from April to July 2020. Structured debriefs followed each session and participant feedback was evaluated in planning of subsequent sessions. A second set of 14 sessions streamed from August to November 2020. Content experts were recruited from academic institutions across the United States. Results: As of July 2020, the ATS CCCTF had 2,494 live participants and 7,687 downloads for a total of 10,181 views. The majority of participants had both completed training (58.6%) and trained in critical care (53.8%). Physicians made up a majority (82.2%) of the audience that spanned the globe (61% were international attendees). Conclusion: We describe the rapid and successful implementation of an open-access medical education forum to address training and knowledge gaps among healthcare personnel caring for patients with COVID-19.

Abstract Introduction In partnership with a federally qualified health center (FQHC), an adapted virtual version of boot camp translation (BCT) was used to elicit input from Spanish-speaking Latino patients and staff to develop messaging and patient education materials for follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal fecal testing. We describe how we adapted an existing in-person BCT process to be delivered virtually and present evaluations from participants on the virtual format. Methods Three virtual BCT sessions were facilitated by bilingual staff and conducted via Zoom. These sessions included introductions and discussions on colorectal cancer (CRC), CRC screening, and gathered feedback from participants on draft materials. Ten adults were recruited from the FQHC. A research team member from the FQHC served as the point of contact (POC) for all participants and offered Zoom introductory sessions and/or technology support before and during the sessions. Following the third session, participants were invited to complete an evaluation form about their virtual BCT experience. Using a 5-point Likert Scale (where 5 = strongly agree), questions focused on session utility, group comfort level, session pacing, and overall sense of accomplishment. Results Average scores ranged from 4.3 to 5.0 indicating strong support towards the virtual BCT sessions. Additionally, our study emphasized the importance of a POC to provide technical support to participants throughout the process. Using this approach, we successfully incorporated feedback from participants to design culturally relevant materials to promote follow-up colonoscopy. Conclusion We recommend ongoing public health emphasis on the use of virtual platforms for community engaged work.

Modern technological industries fused with the Internet-of-Things (IoT) have been advancing rapidly. The joint usage of several technologies has led to the reshaping of the modeling and simulation techniques into the virtualization of physical systems. Thus, the concept of virtual prototyping has emerged as a significant development in distributed IoT applications that includes early exploration, optimization, and security assessments. Several industries have been employing various types of prototyping e.g., virtual platforms, digital twins, and application-specific virtualization techniques, to achieve individual needs for development. In this survey, we clarify some of these concepts and the distinctions between them, provide a comprehensive overview of various prototyping technologies, and discuss how several virtualization technologies play a transformative role in the design and operation of intelligent cyber-physical systems.

Introduction: In partnership with a federally qualified health center (FQHC), an adapted virtual version of boot camp translation (BCT) was used to elicit input from Spanish-speaking Latino patients and staff to develop messaging and patient education materials for follow-up colonoscopy after abnormal fecal testing. We describe how we adapted an existing in-person BCT process to be delivered virtually and present evaluations from participants on the virtual format. Methods: Three virtual BCT sessions were facilitated by bilingual staff and conducted via Zoom. These sessions included introductions and discussions on colorectal cancer (CRC), CRC screening, and gathered feedback from participants on draft materials. Ten adults were recruited from the FQHC. A research team member from the FQHC served as the point of contact (POC) for all participants and offered Zoom introductory sessions and/or technology support before and during the sessions. Following the third session, participants were invited to complete an evaluation form about their virtual BCT experience. Using a 5-point Likert Scale (where 5 = strongly agree), questions focused on session utility, group comfort level, session pacing, and overall sense of accomplishment. Results: Average scores ranged from 4.3 to 5.0 indicating strong support towards the virtual BCT sessions. Additionally, our study emphasized the importance of a POC to provide technical support to participants throughout the process. Using this approach, we successfully incorporated feedback from participants to design culturally relevant materials to promote follow-up colonoscopy. Conclusion: We recommend ongoing public health emphasis on the use of virtual platforms for community engaged work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored the experiences of supervisors of educational psychologists (EPs) and trainee EPs (TEPs), using an increase in virtual methods of supervision, first undertaken during the Covid-19 restrictions within one Local Authority (LA) in England. Eleven supervisors in different roles, with varying lengths of experience, were supervising a range of EP positions and contributed to the online semi-structured questionnaire, which focused on supervision delivery, opportunities, challenges, and contextual factors. The responses were analysed using thematic analysis, with a number of themes identified. Key conclusions related to value of supervision, differences in supervisory practice, adequate experience, and support for TEP development and competence including newly qualified EPs, emotional impact of supervising while working remotely, supervisor and supervisee wellbeing, and technological considerations. Implications for practice are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To display virtual pharmaceutical care programs implemented by pharmacists across the world. Accordingly, a search in PubMed, Scopus and Embase with keywords such as ''Pharmacist', 'Pharmaceutical care', 'Virtual platform' and its associated medical subject headings retrieved appropriate articles. The quality of each filtered article were assessed with the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist. Key findings: A total of 2 14 841 articles were identified through database screening and 16 articles were extracted and finalized. Twelve papers presented different forms of electronic medical record-based virtual pharmacy systems that had significantly contributed to patient care; minimizing medication errors, rectifying adverse events, modifying drug administration patterns to reduce the fatality of drug–drug interaction and further promoting medication counselling. Nevertheless, few studies had social media platforms for providing clinical pharmacy services that depicted good patient satisfaction. Additionally, we were also able to portray community pharmacies that transformed themselves to provide better and easily accessible pharmaceutical care to their society. Summary: There are limited numbers of peer-reviewed articles on pharmacist-operated virtual systems. However, owing to the benefits imparted to patient safety and care by the virtual pharmacy in the era of pandemic, it is highly recommended that more pharmacy professionals contribute and implement such programs in their settings. Prospero Registration ID: CRD42022307175. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research looked at how using a process writing technique using the Padlet application (PA) influenced the argumentative writing of undergraduates majoring in English as a foreign language (EFL). Sixty students in their fourth-year in English language and translation major made up the study's subjects. Then, they were randomly assigned to one of two groups (N=30 total): the experiment group or the control group. Participants' ages varied between 19 and 20. There was no attempt to control the subjects' sex identities. Quasi-experimental techniques were used to gather quantitative data in this study through pre- and post-tests. The Padlet app and a process writing methodology were used to instruct the experimental group in argumentative text writing, while more conventional methods were used to instruct the control group. For two and a half months, researchers worked with EFL majors to find ways to strengthen their argumentative writing. The experimental group's performance in writing argumentative prose using the process writing approach based on the Padlet application was substantially higher than that of the control group, as determined by an independent sample T-test. The students were also quite enthused about utilizing Padlet application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy required to supply data centers today is estimated to be around 1% of the global demand of electricity, with the cloud computing paradigm being the main driver of computing demand. Leading cloud providers are already making efforts to reduce energy expenditure of their data centers. However, the role that online platform operators and end-users can play towards a more sustainable cloud is still unclear. In this article, we raise the question whether making end users aware of their impact on cloud energy expenditure leads to more efficient use of the platforms. Focusing on non-retail platforms, we have run an A/B test in the Virtual Campus of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), one of the biggest online universities worldwide. In this intervention, we show the test group real-time information about the energy consumption of the platform, as well as tips on how to reduce it. Alongside, we monitor user behavior in terms of session duration and volume of traffic generated. Our results reveal that users who received this information did not change their behavior significantly. This result encourages us to find alternative ways to reduce the energy impact associated with the platform without the active participation of the end user, such as a more intelligent session management in conjunction with auto-scaling tools.

Background: Online language learning has recently gained a reputation in educational research, holding specifically true in English for specific purposes (ESP) courses. However, ESP online learning has not been sufficiently examined in particular disciplines such as medicine. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of teaching English medical vocabulary through a virtual learning platform (Adobe Connect) on Iranian medical students' learner factors, including their self-regulation and self-concept. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 female and male medical students learning English for Medicine at Kashan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. An Oxford Placement Test (OPT) was administered to ensure the sample's homogeneity. Then, the participants were categorized into Adobe Connect (experimental) and conventional face-to-face (control) groups. Data were collected using the Academic Self-concept Questionnaire (ASCQ) and the Self-regulation Questionnaire (SRQ). An ANCOVA test was run to compare the possible role of the two instructional methods on medical students' self-regulation and self-concept. Results: Adobe Connect, as the experimental group, had a higher median score than the control group regarding the self-regulation posttest (P = 0.000). Therefore, using Adobe Connect virtual platform significantly improved the self-regulation of ESP medical students. Additionally, the results revealed that the experimental participants outperformed the control group regarding their selfconcept (P = 0.000). Conclusions: Based on the results, the online platform positively affected self-regulation and self-conceptamongmedical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Comportamentalia is the property of Instituto de Psicologia y Educacion de la Universidad Veracruzana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Human Review is the property of Eagora Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Kidney transplant centers and other health care organizations historically have struggled to merge lifestyle management for diet and physical activity into clinical practice. The use of mobile health (mHealth) applications has the potential for kidney transplant recipients to track calorie intake and physical activity in real time. Few studies have reported how they trained their research team and participants how to use mHealth technology in real time. The purpose of this study was to describe lessons learned for training a research team and teaching kidney transplant recipients how to use mHealth technology utilizing a virtual format. Findings suggest that time and educational materials, and using verbal, written, and visual information are critical when conducting a research study using a virtual format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental practice (MP) is a method of enhancing surgical training by rehearsal of a task without physical action. The primary objective of the study was to develop and validate a MP tool for laparoscopic salpingectomy (LS). An imagery script for LS was developed and used to facilitate a structured MP session for trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and expert gynaecologists across three teaching hospitals in the UK. A virtual platform was used for one trainee group to assess its feasibility compared to a face-to-face approach. Pre- and post-session assessments were conducted to evaluate the impact of the script on motivation, confidence, preparedness and quality of imagery and demonstrated a significant improvement in global imagery scores for both novice groups. The expert group scored significantly higher than the face-to-face novice group on all items both before and after MP, indicating construct validity. There were no significant differences demonstrated between the two novice groups, thus demonstrating the virtual platform to be a non-inferior approach – an important consideration in the current COVID era. What is already known on this subject? Mental practice has been used most commonly in sports and music. Increasingly, it has been utilised in surgical settings and prior studies have demonstrated a positive impact on surgical performance. In gynaecology, a mental practice tool for total abdominal hysterectomy has previously been developed. What the results of this study add? This study adds to the growing literature on use of MP in surgical education by successfully developing and validating a mental practice technique for laparoscopic salpingectomy. Additionally, a virtual approach was tested and found to be non-inferior to the traditional face-to-face approach. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This tool can be used as a training aid for novice gynaecologists learning laparoscopic salpingectomy. Notably, use of this tool via a virtual platform is feasible and effective. Further research is required to continue to optimise the MP technique protocol and evaluate its effects on clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moving to a virtual platform can introduce barriers beyond access and stability of technology, which may influence students' academic performance. The aim of this study was to identify factors, both personal and technology-related, that students and faculty perceived as contributors to academic performance. Enrolled students and teaching faculty in the Bachelor of Science programs at Rush University were surveyed. Analysis of survey results indicated that mental health and finances hindered students' performance, whereas faculty reported that technology accessibility and stability was the greatest contributor to students' performance. Both groups reported that at-home learning environment contributed to students' academic performance. These results provided insight into factors that impact student academic performance, allowing for appropriate changes to courses and overall curriculum to ensure undergraduates' learning and retention of course material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed education in medical residencies with the need to transition to a virtual format. The objective of this study is to assess the adoption of a virtual format for grand rounds, M&M, and education of the surgical department.Method: A 25 question online survey was developed using Qualtrics and distributed to faculty and resident physicians in the Department of Surgery from March to April 2021.Results: Fifty four out of 79 potential respondents (68%) completed the survey. Twenty-seven out of 54 (50%) respondents stated they were more likely to be participating in another activity most of the time or always. During to in-person conferences, 20/54 (37%) of participants reported being more distracted by other activities. Forty-two out of 54 (78%) participants strongly agree that virtual conferences are more flexible with their schedule and saves them travel time. All of the faculty want conferences to continue virtually (with or without an in-person component) citing virtual conferences are more flexible with their schedule and saves travel time. However, 4/26 (15%) of residents responded not wanting to continue virtual education citing work distractions and not truly having protected time.Conclusion: As the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is continuing with new variants, the virtual education and conference format is necessary. There is overwhelming support from both residents and faculty in favor of the virtual conference format due to flexibility, ease, and convenience. However, care must be taken to make sure that resident education time is truly protected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Sociales (13159518) is the property of Revista de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad del Zulia Venezuela and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Campus student leadership in a virtual space refers to the pursuit of student leaders in pursuing leadership through organizing, implementing, and facilitating programs and activities virtually. This study utilized a Qualitative Transcendental Phenomenological approach with two sets of focused group discussions and two in-depth interviews. Four themes (categories) emerged that characterized the essence (structure) of the phenomenon of student leadership in virtual space. The themes include “transition and gains” that discuss their experience of the shift from face-to-face leadership to the virtual platform. The second theme is “Mindfulness and Actions” which describes how their mental attitudes have changed when it comes to making decisions now that they lead virtually. The third one is “Adaptability and Coping” which discusses their experiences on how they adapt to the changes and cope with the challenges. The fourth theme is on “virtual rapport and connection” which explains the roles exemplified by the student leaders in establishing the connections among them in the virtual space. The understanding of student leadership in a virtual space provides input for the institution in intensifying its support and improving the delivery of virtual programs and activities through more effective and efficient leadership of students.