The physics remote laboratory: Implementation of an experiment on Standing Waves

There always have been some hurdles when it comes to the adequate use of didactical experimental activities in science education, such as the lack of proper training, insufficient time, and inadequate infrastructure. At this very moment, the pandemic has taught us that there may be also circumstances in which the traditional laboratory and the traditional activities are just not possible, thus online operable experiments might constitute a viable alternative for the practical lessons in higher education. In this paper, we discuss the development and the implementation of a remote-controlled didactical experiment on Standing Waves largely used in the physics basic program offered to the engineering courses. The development has combined applied knowledge from different areas, i.e. electric and electronics engineering, and computer science. In order to ascertain the experiment consistency, we have gathered data from the wave propagation speed and from the corresponding tension applied to the string and performed a χ-square linear fit in order to determine the correlation between the logarithm of both parameters. The experiment was successfully implemented and has been accessed by hundreds of different users from more than 30 different countries ever since. It has also been largely employed in practical activities at the university and has shown no significant signs of instability. It exhibited a total latency time inferior to 0.8 seconds on average and the results drawn from data it provides have shown to be accurate, within less than 0.8% of deviation with respect to the theoretical results.

Effectiveness of two doses of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was consistently high following two doses (94.6–97.4%) and three doses (96.1%) of the tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccine. These data support the public health value of providing two doses of the TBE vaccine to a traveller to an endemic area presenting with insufficient time to complete the full three-dose primary series.

Critical care ultrasound training: a survey exploring the “education gap” between potential and reality in Canada

Background Critical care ultrasound (CCUS) is now a core competency for Canadian critical care medicine (CCM) physicians, but little is known about what education is delivered, how competence is assessed, and what challenges exist. We evaluated the Canadian CCUS education landscape and compared it against published recommendations. Methods A 23-item survey was developed and incorporated a literature review, national recommendations, and expert input. It was sent in the spring of 2019 to all 13 Canadian Adult CCM training programs via their respective program directors. Three months were allowed for data collection and descriptive statistics were compiled. Results Eleven of 13 (85%) programs responded, of which only 7/11 (64%) followed national recommendations. Curricula differed, as did how education was delivered: 8/11 (72%) used hands-on training; 7/11 (64%) used educational rounds; 5/11 (45%) used image interpretation sessions, and 5/11 (45%) used scan-based feedback. All 11 employed academic half-days, but only 7/11 (64%) used experience gained during clinical service. Only 2/11 (18%) delivered multiday courses, and 2/11 (18%) had mandatory ultrasound rotations. Most programs had only 1 or 2 local CCUS expert-champions, and only 4/11 (36%) assessed learner competency. Common barriers included educators receiving insufficient time and/or support. Conclusions Our national survey is the first in Canada to explore CCUS education in critical care. It suggests that while CCUS education is rapidly developing, gaps persist. These include variation in curriculum and delivery, insufficient access to experts, and support for educators.

Rapid freezing of saturated clays under large thermal gradients

This study investigates the rapid freezing behavior of saturated clays under large thermal gradients. Although the freezing characteristics of soils under natural/low thermal gradients such as ice lens formation and water migration have been extensively studied, the freezing of a saturated soil under a large thermal gradient is not understood. This study presents rapid freezing tests to examine the freezing behavior of saturated fine-grained soils in a closed system under large thermal gradients using liquid nitrogen (LN). Temperatures are measured inside specimens during freezing and micro-CT visualized internally after freezing. Results show that large thermal gradients develop near the surfaces of specimens upon their submersion in LN. The specimens freeze homogeneously, and no visible ice lenses form, owing to the insufficient time for water migration and ice segregation under rapid freezing. The specimens fracture and split into major pieces, under no confining stresses in this study; freezing first occurs near the boundaries, and the freezing front propagates inward, creating temporal, differential volume changes between the outer and inner parts of the specimens, which leads to fractures in the unconfined state. The fractures affect subsequent temperature propagation and thermal gradients.

Hemispheric geochemical dichotomy of the mantle is a legacy of austral supercontinent assembly and deep subduction of continental crust

Oceanic hotspots with extreme enriched mantle radiogenic isotopic signatures—including high 87Sr/86Sr and low 143Nd/144Nd indicative of ancient subduction of continental crust—are restricted to the southern hemispheric mantle. However, the mechanisms responsible for concentrating subducted continental crust in the austral mantle are unknown. We show subduction of sediments and subduction eroded material, and lower continental crust delamination, cannot generate this spatially coherent austral domain. However, late Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic continental collisions—associated with the assembly of Gondwana and Pangea—were positioned predominantly in the southern hemisphere during the late Neoproterozoic appearance of widespread continental ultra-high-pressure (UHP, >2.7 gigapascals) metamorphic terranes, which marked the onset of deep subduction of upper continental crust. We propose that deep subduction of upper continental crust at ancient rifted-passive margins during austral supercontinent assembly, from 650-300 Ma, resulted in enhanced upper continental crust delivery into the southern hemisphere mantle. In contrast, EM domains are absent in boreal hotspots, for two reasons. First, continental crust subducted after 300—when the continents drifted into the northern hemisphere—has had insufficient time to return to the surface in plumes feeding northern hemisphere hotspots. Second, before the appearance of continental UHP rocks at 650 Ma, upper continental crust was not subducted to great depths, thus precluding its subduction into the northern hemisphere mantle during the Precambrian when continents may have been located in the northern hemisphere. Our model implies a recent formation of the austral EM domain, explains the geochemical dichotomy between austral and boreal hotspots, and may explain why austral hotspots outnumber boreal hotspots.

Assessment of Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge, Utilization of Practice and Associated Factors on Nurses Working in the Adult Intensive Care Unit of Federal Public Hospital in Addis Ababa

Background Critical care nurses face several challenges in providing safe, evidence-based care for critical patients. Evidence-based practices are important to improve the overall quality of patient care, enhance nursing practice, and increase confidence in evidence-based decision-making. Thus, this study was intended to assess evidence-based practice knowledge and utilization of the practice on nurses working in the adult intensive care units. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was employed on 135 randomly selected nurses working in adult intensive care units of federal public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from April 3 to December 21, 2020. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. Then, it was entered into Epi data version 4.4.2.1, and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. In the bivariate logistic regression analysis, predictors variables with p< 0.25 were fitted to multivariate analysis. Then, the adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was used to report the association at P< 0.05. Results Among the study participants, about 92(68.1%) and 115(85.2%) of them were found to have good knowledge and utilization of evidence-based practice, respectively. Predictors like difficulty to properly interpret research results (AOR=11.36; 95% CI: 1.86-69.39), and insufficient resources to implement changes in practice (AOR=4.44; 95% CI: 1.05-18.80) were associated with poor knowledge of evidence-based practice. Moreover, nurses who were not able to interpret research results, lack of nursing colleague support, and insufficient time were significantly associated with poor utilization (P<0.05). Conclusion The knowledge and utilization of evidence-based practice among nurses was found to be high compared to the findings of former studies. Inability to properly interpret research results, lack of confidence, insufficient time, and lack of nursing colleague support were independently associated with poor knowledge and utilization of evidence-based practices among nurses working in adult ICU nurses.

Tracking of risk factors for non-communicable diseases in young shooters, Ituiutaba, MG

The aim of this study was to detect early hypertension, diabetes and obesity, as well as their risk factors, in 105 young shooters from Tiro de Guerra 11-002 in the city of Ituiutaba-MG. This is a cross-sectional mixed study. A semi-structured questionnaire that contained questions related to the sociodemographic context, health status, lifestyle, eating habits, and psychosocial variables was applied. Blood pressure, anthropometric indexes, and lipid and glycemic profiles were measured. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson’s correlation test and Spearman’s coefficient, considering significative value (p < 0.05). The shooters had an average of 18.9 years old, most educated and brown. Anthropometric indices indicated a mainly eutrophic population, and normotensive and desirable lipid and glycemic profiles. However, overweight, high blood pressure, and self-declaration of family history for chronic diseases were identified. In addition, most shooters affirmed to ingest alcoholics beverages, to have insufficient time of physical activity, and to be aware of their levels of stress, pressure and anxiety and a few hours of sleep. Overall, the shooters showed good anthropometric and biochemical indicators of blood. Risk behavior, such as drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking, low level of physical activity and self-perception of stress, anxiety and pressure were also noted.

Identifying the teaching content on substandard and falsified medical products in global pharmacy education as critical public health issue

Aim: To gain insight into the education about substandard and falsified (SF) medical products. Method: A digital survey was sent to 173 different schools of pharmacy around the world. Results: The response rate was 32% (55 responses, 37 countries). Most schools taught about SF medical products as a stand-alone course or as part of another course or module (67%), whereas 33% did not teach about the subject. The main focus of teaching was on detection (21%) and prevention (21%) of SF medical products, while reporting was taught the least (12%), indicating a knowledge gap in that area. A key barrier to introducing a new course that could close the gaps was insufficient time in pharmacy curriculum (n=33; 60%), while availability of ready-to-adopt course materials was considered as a helpful enabler. Conclusion: These insights can improve the understanding on what is already being taught on SF medical products, where the gaps are and inform the curriculum needed globally.

Evaluation of the Qualifying Training of New Teachers of Mathematics: Case of the Training of the CRMEF of Settat-Morocco

This research aims to measure the impact of training on the professional qualification of teacher-trainees in all the specifications, behaviors, skills and professional competence corresponding to the practice of the teaching profession by deploying the Kirkpatrick model. To do this, we sent a questionnaire to the mathematics teacher-trainees who benefited from the qualifying training in CRMEF-Settat (Promotion 2019). We, subsequently, conducted an interview with the majority of their trainers. This study allowed us to detect dysfunctions: At the organizational level: Mismatch between the specialty of the diploma obtained by the trainee teachers (physics, chemistry, computer science) and the subject they will be teaching (Mathematics), Lack of an adequate structure at the CRMEF likely to take care of the management and implementation of the MSP (the practical situations) and Insufficient time training. And at the educational level: Insufficient communication between trainers and teacher-trainees, and Lack of support for these teachers in internship places during the MSP period. Received: 19 July 2021 / Accepted: 20 August 2021 / Published: 5 September 2021

Attitudes, perceptions and barriers around evidence-based practice in sports physiotherapy in Kenya

Background: Healthcare practitioners are required to integrate clinical experience with the best research evidence for the benefit of the patient.Objective: Determine the attitudes, perceptions and barriers regarding evidence-based practice (EBP) in sports physiotherapy in Kenya.Method: A quantitative crosssectional study was conducted among licensed physiotherapists in the Republic of Kenya through a self-administered questionnaire. Associations between selected sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, training, experience, specialisation) and attitudes, perceptions and barriers were determined using a Chi-square test.Results: A 55.9% (n = 391) response rate was recorded. A positive attitude towards EBP was reported by 94.6% (n = 370) of the respondents. The most obvious areas of agreement with attitude-and perception-related statements were that ‘EBP is important in that patients can receive the best possible treatment’ (95.9%; n = 375), and that it is important that ‘evidence-based guidelines related to work exist’ (84.6%; n = 331). There were no significant associations between the demographic characteristics (gender p = 0.104 [X2 = 2.638;1]; age p = 0.495 [X2 = 2.393;3]; training p = 0.590 [X2 = 4.644;6]; experience p = 0.980 [X2 = 0.426;4] and specialisation p = 0.649 [X2= 0.207;1]); and attitudes and perceptions regarding EBP. Insufficient time was highlighted by 57.8% (n = 226) of the respondents as one of the ‘most important barriers’.Conclusion: Although physiotherapists presented with strong positive attitudes towards EBP in sports physiotherapy, barriers were identified which could hinder the implementation of EBP in sports physiotherapy.Clinical implications: Barriers to applying EBP in sports physiotherapy may lead to inferior quality of care for athletes while addressing these barriers is crucial.