Interview Scores Correlate with Fellow Microsurgical Skill and Performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (03) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Butler ◽  
Hiroo Suami ◽  
Patrick Garvey ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Jesse Selber ◽  
...  

Background The interview process for surgical trainees aims to select those individuals who will perform best during training and have the greatest potential as future surgeons. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between criteria assessed at interview, technical skills, and performance, for the first time, to optimize the selection process for a Microsurgery fellowship. Methods Twenty microsurgery fellows in three consecutive annual cohorts at a single academic center were prospectively evaluated. At interview, subjects were scored for multiple standardized domains. At the start and at end of the fellowship, microsurgical technical skill was assessed both in the laboratory and operating room (OR) using a validated assessment tool. At the end of the fellowship, there was a final evaluation of performance. Results At the start, microsurgical skill significantly correlated with almost all domains evaluated at interview, most closely with prior plastic surgery training experience. At the end of the fellowship, skill level improved in all trainees, with the greatest improvement made by the lowest ranked and skilled trainees. The highest ranked trainees, however, made the greatest improvement in speed. Conclusions The results of this study, for the first time, validate the current interview process to correctly select the highest performing and most skilled candidates and support the effectiveness of a 1-year microsurgical fellowship in improving microsurgical skill in all trainees, irrespective of their initial ability. The importance of valuing the relative quality of prior training and experience at selection is also highlighted.

Author(s):  
Jeroen S. Reijnen ◽  
Jon B. Marthinsen ◽  
Alf O. Tysland ◽  
Christoph Müller ◽  
Irina Schönhardt ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose To assess the safety and performance of a MRI-directed diagnostic pathway for patients with first-time suspicion of prostate cancer in a non-university hospital. Methods Between May 2017 and December 2018 all biopsy-naive patients examined in our hospital followed a MRI-directed diagnostic work-up algorithm based on PI-RADS score. In short, PI-RADS 1–2 was generally not biopsied and PI-RADS 3–5 was reviewed by a multidisciplinary team. Patients with PI-RADS 4-5 were all referred to biopsy, either transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy or MRI in-bore biopsy for small tumors and for sites difficult to access. PI-RADS scores were compared to the histopathology from biopsies and surgical specimens for patients who had prostatectomy. Non-biopsied patients were referred to a safety net monitoring regimen. Results Two hundred and ninety-eight men were enrolled. 97 (33%) had PI-RADS 1–2, 44 (15%) had PI-RADS 3, and 157 (53%) had PI-RADS 4–5. 116 (39%) of the patients avoided biopsy. None of these were diagnosed with significant cancer within 2–3.5 years of safety net monitoring. Almost all high ISUP grade groups (≥ 3) were in the PI-RADS 4–5 category (98%). Prostatectomy specimens and systematic biopsies from MRI-negative areas indicated that very few clinically significant cancers were missed by the MRI-directed diagnostic pathway. Conclusion Our findings add to evidence that a MRI-directed diagnostic pathway can be safely established in a non-university hospital. The pathway reduced the number of biopsies and reliably detected the site of the most aggressive cancers. Graphic abstract


Author(s):  
Ambros Gleixner ◽  
Gregor Hendel ◽  
Gerald Gamrath ◽  
Tobias Achterberg ◽  
Michael Bastubbe ◽  
...  

AbstractWe report on the selection process leading to the sixth version of the Mixed Integer Programming Library, MIPLIB 2017. Selected from an initial pool of 5721 instances, the new MIPLIB 2017 collection consists of 1065 instances. A subset of 240 instances was specially selected for benchmarking solver performance. For the first time, these sets were compiled using a data-driven selection process supported by the solution of a sequence of mixed integer optimization problems, which encode requirements on diversity and balancedness with respect to instance features and performance data.


2008 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 56-58
Author(s):  
F Howse ◽  
M Ward ◽  
J Horwood ◽  
B Byrne ◽  
A Mirnezami

In 2007 a new method of selection for specialist training in the UK was introduced. Traditional forms of application and interview were abandoned in favour of an online application system and a structured interview process. Due to widely reported shortcomings the online application system has since been abandoned. The interview process also underwent modification during the first and second round of applications, specifically to incorporate the consideration of CVs at interview in addition to trainee portfolios. Nevertheless, the basic structured interview format promises to become the norm for the selection of surgical trainees throughout the country, potentially for many years to come.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ffion Dewi ◽  
Darren Scroggie ◽  
Samir Pathak ◽  
Natalie Blencowe ◽  
Andrew Hollowood ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A new outcomes-based curriculum is soon to be implemented for UK surgical trainees. Performance will be evaluated against the standard expected of a new consultant. Accurate recording of operative experience and performance will therefore be crucial to demonstrate achievement of this standard. The current eLogbook system for recording surgical experience has many benefits including simplicity and accessibility, but may misrepresent actual experience because most operations are considered as a whole; unlike some colorectal operations, involvement in steps within many upper gastrointestinal (UGI) operations cannot be recorded. Methods Impact on training by the COVID-19 pandemic led to discussion and identification of cultural and logistical barriers to accurate recording of experience. To address these, a modification to enhance the current eLogbook system was developed by trainees and trainers at a university teaching hospital. An existing typology was used to deconstruct common UGI operations into their component steps, which can be recorded at this more detailed level.  Results The modified deconstructed logbook concept is described using a worked example, which can be applied to any operation. We also describe the integration of a component-based training discussion into the surgical team brief and debrief; this complements the deconstructed logbook by promoting a training culture. Conclusions Using the described techniques, trainees of all levels can comprehensively and accurately describe their surgical experience. Senior trainees will benefit from recording complex operations which they are not expected to complete in their entirety, whilst less experienced trainees will benefit from the ability to record their involvement in more basic parts of operations. The suggested approach will reduce misrepresentation of experience, encourage proactive planning of training opportunities, and reduce the impact of crises such as pandemics on surgical training.


Author(s):  
N. Yakovchuk

The chamber-instrumental ensemble music in the Ukrainian musical culture of the last third of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries occupies one of the leading places and is characterized by powerful processes in its development. Such circumstances caused the Ukrainian musicologist interests to the problems of chamber-instrumental music creativity and performance. There are appeared researches in the field of theory, history and performance problems covering the most important questions like chamber music definitions, specific genre issues, the growing function of piano in the Ukrainian chamber music, the increasing questions of technique and timbre importance of modern instrumental ensembles. In the significant multifaceted creative work of contemporary Ukrainian composer, Oleksandr Yakovchuk, the genre of chamber instrumental ensemble music represents a complex and interesting phenomenon. Original and skillfully written compositions reflect artistic world of the composer of postmodern time and gained recognition in music life of Ukraine and beyond. These works are highly appreciated in performing practice of our days. The purpose of the article is to analyze the work — “Little Trio” for clarinet, bassoon and piano (1980), which has the signs of neoclassical tendency in the composer’s style. The methodological basis of this research is a comprehensive approach in theoretical understanding of the subject of research (the methods of textology, source study as well as the method of interviewing the author were used). The scientific novelty of this article is in the priority of its main provisions, since the “Little Trio” entered the scientific circulation for the first time. The three-movement “Little Trio” (1980) is notable for the light feeling of timbre colours and the shape clarity. The Ist movement — Allegretto giocoso — is written in a sonata form following all classical traditions. Quite interesting are the two monologues of clarinet and bassoon from the IInd movement, they represent very modern line in Ukrainian chamber music — the possibility of sincere confession which comes through the solo cadence. In the IIIrd movement, the composer took advantage from the folk Ukrainian dance “hopak” using the rhythm of it and creating dance character of the Final.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis M. Bline ◽  
Stephen Perreault ◽  
Xiaochuan Zheng

ABSTRACT While many colleges and universities publicize CPA examination pass rates as evidence of having a high-quality accounting program, some have questioned whether program-specific characteristics are legitimate predictors of examination success. To examine this issue, we empirically investigate the link between accounting faculty characteristics and performance on the CPA examination. We examine the results from nearly 700,000 first-time exam sittings taken during the period 2005–2013 and find that faculty research and teaching specialization has a significant impact on CPA exam performance. That is, when a program has a relatively higher percentage of accounting faculty with expertise in a particular content area tested on the exam (e.g., auditing), graduates achieve higher scores on the related exam section (e.g., AUD). We also find that faculty research productivity and CPA certification status are positively related to candidate exam performance. We believe these results contribute to the existing literature on the determinants of CPA exam success and also provide important insights to those responsible for accounting faculty staffing and development.


2021 ◽  
pp. bjsports-2020-103696
Author(s):  
Richard Weiler ◽  
Cheri Blauwet ◽  
David Clarke ◽  
Kristine Dalton ◽  
Wayne Derman ◽  
...  

Concussion is a frequent injury in many sports and is also common in para athletes. However, there is a paucity of concussion research related to para sport, and prior International Concussion in Sport (CIS) consensus papers have not substantively addressed this population. To remedy this and to improve concussion care provided to para athletes, the concussion in para sport (CIPS) multidisciplinary expert group was created. This group analysed and discussed in-depth para athlete-specific issues within the established key clinical domains of the current (2017) consensus statement on CIS. Due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group held all meetings by video conferencing. The existing Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 5 (SCAT5) for the immediate on-field and office-based off-field assessment of concussion was evaluated as part of this process, to identify any para athlete-specific concerns. Regular preparticipation and periodic health examinations are essential to determine a baseline reference point for concussion symptoms but pose additional challenges for the interpreting clinician. Further considerations for concussion management for the para athlete are required within the remove, rest, reconsider and refer consensus statement framework. Considering return to sport (RTS), the 2017 CIS consensus statement has limitations when considering the RTS of the para athlete. Case-by-case decision making related to RTS following concussion is imperative for para athletes. Additional challenges exist for the evaluation and management of concussion in para athletes. There is a need for greater understanding of existing knowledge gaps and attitudes towards concussion among athlete medical staff, coaches and para athletes. Future research should investigate the use and performance of common assessment tools in the para athlete population to better guide their clinical application and inform potential modifications. Concussion prevention strategies and sport-specific rule changes, such as in Para Alpine Skiing and Cerebral Palsy Football, also should be carefully considered to reduce the occurrence of concussion in para athletes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tebogo Mokgehle ◽  
Ntakadzeni Madala ◽  
Wilson Gitari ◽  
Nikita Tavengwa

AbstractSolanum plants (Solanaceae) are renowned source of nutraceuticals and have widely been explored for their phytochemical constituents. This work investigated the effects of kosmotropic and chaotropic salts on the number of phytochemicals extracted from the leaves of a nutraceutical plant, Solanum retroflexum, and analyzed on the ultra-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to a quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer (UPLC-QTOF-MS) detector. Here, a total of 20 different compounds were putatively characterized. The majority of the identified compounds were polyphenols and glycoalkaloids. Another compound, caffeoyl malate was identified for the first time in this plant. Glycoalkaloids such as solanelagnin, solamargine, solasonine, β-solanine (I) and β-solanine (II) were found to be extracted by almost all the salts used herein. Kosmotrope salts, overall, were more efficient in extracting polar compounds with 4 more polyphenolic compounds extracted compared to the chaotropes. Chaotropes were generally more selective for the extraction of less polar compounds (glycoalkaloids) with 3 more extracted than the kosmotropes. The chaotrope and the kosmotrope that extracted the most metabolites were NaCl and Na2SO4, respectively, with 12 metabolites extracted for each salt. This work demonstrated that a comprehensive metabolome of S. retroflexum, more than what was previously reported on the same plant, can be achieved by application of kosmotropes and chaotropes as extractants with the aid of the Aqueous Two Phase Extraction approach. The best-performing salts, Na2SO4 or NaCl, could potentially be applied on a commercial scale, to meet the ever-growing demand of the studied metabolites. The Aqueous Two Phase Extraction technique was found to be efficient in simultaneous extraction of multiple metabolites which can be applied in metabolomics.


Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 206
Author(s):  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Yue Su ◽  
Yanyou Wu ◽  
Haitao Li ◽  
Ying Zhou ◽  
...  

The nutrient metabolism, growth and development of plants are strongly affected by its nutrient plunder, and plants have different adaptive mechanisms to low-nutrient environments. The electrophysiological activities involve almost all life processes of plants. In this study, the active transport flow of nutrient (NAF) and nutrient plunder capacity (NPC) of plants were defined based on leaf intrinsic impedance (IZ), capacitive reactance (IXc), inductive reactance (IXL) and capacitance (IC) to evaluate the nutrient plunder capacity of plants for the first time. The results indicate that Orychophragmus violaceus had higher (p < 0.01) NPC and IC and lower (p < 0.01) IR, IXc, IXL and IZ as compared to Brassica napus L., which supports a superior ion affinity and that it could be better adapted to low-nutrient environments. UAF and NPC of plants exhibited good correlations with crude protein, crude ash and water content, and precisely revealed the plunder capacity and adaptive strategies of plants to nutrients. The present work highlights that O. violaceus had superior NPC and ion affinity compared with B. napus, and provided a novel, rapid, reliable method based on the plant’s electrophysiological information for real-time determination of the nutrient plunder capacity of plants.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonali Bhattacharya ◽  
Netra Neelam

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how internship value is manifested in the context of a business school. The authors have examined the internship experience in terms of experiential learning and employability. Specifically, the authors investigate the factors that determine internship at four phases: design, conduct, evaluation and feedback. Design/methodology/approach The authors have applied a mixed method approach. In all, 110 students of a busines school were first surveyed on their expectation, motivation and level of preparation through a self-administered questionnaire before internship. Based on the survey result, eight of these students were interviewed in details about internship expectations from industry, the selection process for internship, communications or exchanges between intern and companies prior to internship and perceived industry expectation from interns. At the next phase, authors used a qualitative research approach by conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 14 interns and their mentors after internship period. They were interviewed on design, conduct, evaluation and feedback process of the internship. Interviews tried capture what kind of leader-member exchange led to satisfactory internship experience and outcome from view of both inter and mentor. Findings The authors find that at various stages of internship program quality of mentor – intern exchanges (as defined by leadership exchange theory), and task characteristics as indicated by autonomy, task variety, task significance and performance feedback determine intern’s performance. An intern’s performance is antecedent to an intern’s and a mentor’s satisfaction and overall internship value. The authors also found that intrinsic capability of intern such as critical thinking ability and learning orientation result in enhanced value of internship experience. The proposed models, postulate that at designing stage, lower the level of communication from employers, higher the feeling of ambiguity and lower the perceived internship value in terms of experiential learning and perceived employability. Feeling of ambiguity is moderated by existence of prior work experience of interns. At conduction stage, mentor-intern exchange is directly related to flexibility in structure of the program and inversely related to dependency on peer learning. Mentor-intern exchange also related to mentor and intern’s learning value. However, the learning value is moderated by learning orientation of the intern. Originality/value The authors have tried the summer internship experience from the perspective of interns and mentors. This is the uniqueness of the research.


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