Development of a Simulation Scenario Evaluation Tool (SSET): modified Delphi study

IntroductionOne critical aspect of successful simulation facilitation is development of written scenarios. However, there are no validated assessment tools dedicated to the evaluation of written simulation scenarios available. Our aim was to develop a tool to evaluate the quality of written simulation demonstrating content validity.MethodsA comprehensive literature search did not yield a validated assessment tool dedicated for the evaluation of written simulation scenarios. A subsequent search yielded six templates published for written simulation scenario design. From these templates, critical scenario elements were identified to create an evaluation instrument with six components of scenario quality with corresponding anchors and rating scale. Subsequently, a national group of simulation experts were engaged via survey methodology to rate the content of the proposed instrument. Ultimately, a modified two-round Delphi approach was implemented to demonstrate consensus of the final assessment tool.Results38 responses were obtained in round 1, while 22 complete responses were obtained in round 2. Round 1 kappa values ranged from 0.44 to 1.0, indicating moderate to almost perfect rater agreement for inclusion of the six proposed components. Kappa values specifically regarding scale and anchors ranged from 0 to 0.49. After revisions, there was a significant level of agreement (p<0.05) of all items of the proposed assessment tool in the second-round survey except for item 10. Of note, all initial respondents indicated that they had never evaluated written scenarios with an assessment tool.ConclusionsThe Simulation Scenario Evaluation Tool, developed using a national consensus of content experts, is an instrument demonstrating content validity that assesses the quality of written simulation scenarios. This tool provides a basis to guide structured feedback regarding the quality of written simulation scenarios.

De l’utopie du dialogue de la Renaissance à l’institution de la conversation à l’âge classique

Cet article se propose de comparer ces deux moments forts de la simulation écrite de l’échange oral en France que sont le milieu du XVIe siècle pour le genre du « dialogue » (ou du « colloque ») et la deuxième moitié du XVIIe pour celui de la « conversation » (ou de l’« entretien »), et ce, afin de montrer que la relation de continuité postulée par Marc Fumaroli entre le « dialogue humaniste » et la « conversation classique » pose problème à plus d’un titre. Nous verrons qu’il serait même préférable d’envisager cette relation sur le mode de la discontinuité, voire de l’opposition. En conclusion, nous nous intéresserons brièvement à un « passeur », Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac, ayant joué un rôle majeur dans ce renversement, dont les fondements éthiques et politiques paraissent discutables. This article sets out to compare two high points in the written simulation of oral exchange in France: the mid-sixteenth century for the genre of “dialogue” (or “colloque”) and the second half of the seventeenth for that of the “conversation” (or “entretien”). The article demonstrates that the relation of continuity postulated by Marc Fumaroli between “humanist dialogue” and “classical conversation” is problematic for more than one reason. We will see that it might be preferable to consider this relation in terms of discontinuity, or perhaps even opposition. In conclusion, we deal briefly with a “middleman” who played a major role in this reversal, and whose ethical motivations and politics seem questionable: Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac.

Predictors of success on the American Board for Certification’s prosthetics certification examination

Background:Many factors can potentially impact pass or fail performance of a certification examination. While studies regarding predictors of success have been conducted in other professions, no such studies have been conducted in prosthetics and orthotics.Objectives:Determine whether there are significant differences in prosthetics certification examination success or failure based on gender, Carnegie ranking of the institution from where the candidate received the degree, and whether the candidate is extending credential from orthotics to include prosthetics.Study design:Retrospective study.Methods:Data of candidates who completed prosthetics residency in 2011 and 2012 were evaluated for relationships with the dependent variables.Results:Only credential extension showed a statistically significant relationship with written multiple choice ( p = 0.000), written simulation ( p = 0.006), and clinical patient management examinations ( p = 0.005) as well as with success or failure in obtaining prosthetics certification ( p < 0.001).Conclusions:Currently available data for analysis regarding predictors of success are limited. Collection of additional variables (i.e. pre-requisite grade point average) in the future will permit analysis of more robust information. Presently available data reveal that candidates seeking to extend credential are more successful in obtaining certified prosthetist status compared with those testing for the first time.Clinical relevanceUnderstanding factors contributing to attaining licensure is important as the prosthetic/orthotic practitioner population ages. This is the first study to investigate this dimension of prosthetics and orthotics training, which upholds professional standards and protects patients. It helps the profession develop best educational and clinical practices in managing patients who utilize prosthetic technologies.

The Virtual Simulation of Electric-Drive Mechanical Transmission

This paper studies the electric-drive mechanical transmission-EMT which integrates motor and mechanical transmission system. The system follows the principle of power-train integration, the paper uses the CATIA software for virtual manufacturing and assembling, through the written simulation program, using Matlab software transmission to design module simulation studying of the institution, to verify that the three grades EMT system is better in efficiency and fuel economy performance, to provide theoretical research guidance for the product designing.

Microanalysis of Porous Materials

A signal loss is generally reported in electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of porous, highly divided materials like heterogeneous catalysts. The hypothesis generally proposed to explain this signal loss refers to porosity, roughness, energy losses at interfaces, or charging effects. In this work we investigate by Monte Carlo simulation all these physical effects and compare the simulated results with measurements obtained on a mesoporous alumina. A program using the PENELOPE package and taking into account these four physical phenomena has been written. Simulation results show clearly that neither porosity nor roughness, nor specific energy losses at interfaces, nor charging effects are responsible for the observed signal loss. Measurements performed with analysis of carbon and oxygen lead to a correct total of concentration. The signal loss is thus explained by a composition effect due to a carbon contamination brought by the sample preparation and to a lesser extent by a stoichiometry of the porous alumina different from a massive alumina. For this kind of high specific surface porous sample, a little surface contamination layer becomes an important volume contamination that can produce large quantification errors if the contaminant is not analyzed.

Stress Relaxation of a Patterned Microstructure on a Diaphragm

Stress relaxation of a patterned thin film on diaphragms of different material and thickness was investigated through experimental study and numerical simulation. The diaphragm deflections, caused by relaxation of the residual stress in a patterned thin film residing on top, were measured using a Twyman–Green laser interferometer. The first diaphragm used was a Si3N4(top)/SiO2/Si composite diaphragm and the second a 0.5-μm-thick Si3N4 membrane. Custom-written simulation software, which uses a novel numerical algorithm named Nonlinear Sequential Analysis (N-LISA), was utilized to calculate the stress distribution in the patterned thin film and the diaphragm substrate. Agreement between the model and the experimental results was satisfactory. Simulation of the system balance between a tensile-stressed circular Ti film and a stress-free Si substrate of different thickness clearly shows a transition in the substrate behavior from a pure plate to a pure membrane. Interestingly, the deflection of the Si substrate caused by the residual stress in the Ti film reaches its maximum at a certain substrate thickness where plate and membrane characteristics coexist. This study addresses some basic mechanics issues involved in modern devices dealing with thin diaphragms.