Performance in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery: Does it reflect global rating scales in the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills in porcine laparoscopic surgery?

Objective:To correlate the utility of the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery(FLS)manual skills program with the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills(OSATS)global rating scale in evaluating operative performance.Methods:The Asian Urological Surgery Training and Educational Group(AUSTEG)Laparoscopic Upper Tract Surgery Course implemented and validated the FLS program for its usage in laparoscopic surgical training.Delegates’basic laparoscopic skills were assessed using three different training models(peg transfer,precision cutting,and intra-corporeal suturing).They also performed live porcine laparoscopic surgery at the same workshop.Live surgery skills were assessed by blinded faculty using the OSATS rating scale.Results:From March 2016 to March 2019,a total of 81 certified urologists participated in the course,with a median of 5 years of post-residency experience.Although differences in task time did not reach statistical significance,those with more surgical experience were visibly faster at completing the peg transfer and intra-corporeal suturing FLS tasks.However,they took longer to complete the precision cutting task than participants with less experience.Overall OSATS scores correlated weakly with all three FLS tasks(peg transfer time:r=0.331,r^(2)=0.110;precision cutting time:r=0.240,r^(2)=0.058;suturing with intracorporeal knot time:r=0.451,r^(2)=0.203).Conclusion:FLS task parameters did not correlate strongly with OSATS globing rating scale performance.Although FLS task models demonstrated strong validity,it is important to assimilate the inconsistencies when benchmarking technical proficiency against real-life operative competence,as evaluated by FLS and OSATS,respectively.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment and learning must not be considered as two separate processes. In fact, assessment is an integral part of the learning process; it can be learning experience in itself. Active assessment strategies help students better understand the content they learn and develop skills that will be useful to them throughout their lives. Some of those skills are the ability to prepare effective oral and written reports and the ability to cooperate successfully with peers. Action research represents the process of systematic inquiry and it helps teachers to assess learning from the perspective of what they do in the classroom. The purpose is to find out ＂why＂ or ＂how＂ something happened the way it did. Therefore, a situation or problem should be carefully examined by a teacher. Teachers should analyze their own beliefs, values, and assumptions about teaching and learning, knowledge and curriculum, and how these impact the way they interact with students. Feedback should be used as part of assessment activities. Learning experience of students facilitated by teachers can be assessed through feedback.

Development of a skill assessment tool for the Korea operational oceanographic system

A standard skill assessment （SA） tool was developed and implemented to evaluate the performance of op- erational forecast models in the Korea operational oceanographic system. The SA tool provided a robust way to assess model skill in the system by comparing predictions and observations, and involved the com- putation of multiple skill metrics including correlation and error skills. User- and system-based acceptance criteria of skill metrics were applied to determine whether predictions were acceptable for the system. To achieve this, the tool produced a time series comparison plot, a skill score table, and an advanced sum- marized diagram to effectively demonstrate the multiple skill scores. Moreover, the SA was conducted to evaluate both atmospheric and hydrodynamic forecast variables. For the atmospheric variables, acceptable error criteria were preferable to acceptable correlation criteria over short timescales, since the mean square error overwhelmed the observation variance. Conversely, for the hydrodynamic variables, acceptable root mean square percentage error （e.g., perms） criteria were preferable to acceptable error （e.g., erms） criteria owing to the spatially variable tidal intensity around the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, the SA indicated that predetermined acceptance error criteria were appropriate to satisfy a target central frequency （fc） for which errors fell within the specified limits （i.e., the .fc equals 70%）.

The standards for skill assessment of operational marine forecast system

To support navigational and environmental applications in coastal waters, marine opera- tional forecast models must be developed and implemented. A forecast model must guarantee that it is scientifically sound and practically robust for performance and must meet or excel all target frequencies or durations before being released to the public. This paper discusses the standard policies and procedures for evaluation of operational marine forecast models. The primary variables to be evaluated are water lev- els, currents and water density (water temperature and salinity).

Effectiveness of quality physical education in improving students' manipulative skill competency

Purpose： This study aimed to examine the extent to which the quality physical education teaching （QPET） practices contributed to improving 4th- and 5th-grade students＇ manipulative skill competency. Methods： Participants were 9 elementary physical education （PE） teachers and their 4th- and 5th-grade students （n = 2709 3420）. The students＇ skill competency was assessed with 3 manipulative skills using PE metrics assessment rubrics. The PE teachers＇ levels of QPET were assessed by coding 63 videotaped lessons using the assessing quality teaching rubrics （AQTR）, which consisted of 4 essential dimensions including task design, task presentation, class management, and instructional guidance. Codes were confirmed through inter-rater reliability （82.4%, 84.5%, and 94%）. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, multiple R2 regression models, and independent sample t tests. Results： This study indicated that the 4 essential dimensions of QPET were all significant contributors to students＇ manipulative skill competency. These predictors were significantly higher for boys than for girls in soccer and striking skills, while they were significantly higher for girls than for boys in throwing skill competency. Of the 4 essential dimensions of QPET, task presentation played the most significant role in contributing to all 3 skill competencies for both boys and girls. Further, students who experienced high QPET were significantly more skillfully competent than those students who did not have this experience. Conclusion： It was concluded that the QPET practices played a significantly critical role in contributing to students＇ manipulative skill competency.

Manipulative skill competency and health-related physical fitnes in elementary school students

Background：Improving motor skill competency and enhancing health-related physical fitnes are desired learning outcomes for school-aged children.Achieving motor skill competency and a healthy level of physical fitnes lay a foundation for being a physically active person across a lifetime.The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between levels of manipulative skill competency and physical fitnes for elementary school boys and girls.Methods：In this study,565 fourth-grade students and their 9 physical education teachers were voluntary participants.The students were assessed in 4 basic specialized manipulative skills and 4 fitnes components during regular physical education lessons.Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics,univariate analyses,and multiple R2 liner regression methods.Results：Boys were more proficien at the manipulative skills than girls,while girls had significan higher percentages for meeting the healthy fitnes zone for the fitnes tests than boys.Four manipulative skills significant y predicted progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run（PACER）,push-up,and trunk lifts tests at p〈0.05 level,but not curl-up test for both boys and girls.Boys and girls in the skill-competent group significant y outperformed their counterparts in the skill-incompetent group on PACER,push-up,and trunk lifts tests at p〈0.05 level,with an exception of curl-up test.Conclusion：The more competent in manipulative skills,the higher healthy level in cardiovascular endurance,upper-body muscular strength and endurance,and fl xibility the students demonstrated.Demonstrating manipulative skill competence and maintaining a healthy level of physical fitnes are 2 major desired learning outcomes for elementary school students to be able to achieve.

Influence of the Process of Worker on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Molded by Autoclave

The present study aims to investigate the difference of the operation process and the significant mechanical properties between expert workers and beginner workers clearly. The influence of the performance of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) molds made by subjects with difference skill level was discussed. Subjects were allowed to choose their process and molding tools. Subject A had 13 years,and subject B had 1 year of professional experience.The time spent usage of tools and process was recorded by a video camera used for analysis and comparison. Mechanical properties assessed in this study include tensile,compressive and Izod impact properties. The working time analysis shows that subject A needs short time for each process. On the other hand,subject B takes twice time to work for each process compared with subject A. From the surface and cross-section observation, it was found that the molding made by subject B had wrinkles all over and the disorderly inter-layer direction; on the contrary,the wrinkles on the molding surface of subject A are barely,and the inter-layer direction of which are more orderly. The results of tensile and Izod impact tests show that the surface winkles have little influence on the mechanical properties of the molding. According to the compression test and failure structure analysis in edge corner part,it was found that it had a great influence on the compression mechanical properties of the sample belonging to different subjects with different experience.

Attitudes of Nursing Faculty Members and Graduates towards the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of faculty and graduates of college of nursing towards Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a valid and reliable method of clinical competency assessment in nursing ten years after its inception. Core nursing courses are based on instructional teaching methods and “hands-on” approach to impact cognitive, psychomotor skills and clinical judgments. Different clinical competency assessment methods are used globally;however, most of them are subjective. A descriptive survey using 16-item five-point likert scale questionnaire was conducted. The study sample consisted of 140 participants: 20 faculty members, 27 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree and 93 graduates of the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) programs with OSCE experience during their training. Data collection was carried out between October and November 2015. Eighty percent of faculty members, 74% of BSN and 62.3% of ADN graduates agreed that OSCE represented an objective evaluation method for psychomotor skills. Majority of the graduates perceived their OSCE experience positively although stressful. However, they have suggested the introduction of trial/mock OSCE prior to each exam to minimize the stress associated with it. In conclusion, there appears to be no single “gold-standard” assessment tool for clinical competency. OSCE assesses student nurses’ psychomotor skills in a non-clinical environment, therefore without risks to real patients. In combination with other assessment methods in the clinical settings, OSCE will provide a more comprehensive student psychomotor skill evaluation. OSCE experiences gave new nursing graduates confidence to work as registered nurses in health care settings.

Performance of single versus two operators in laparoscopic surgery

Aim:To examine the significance of team collaboration in the context of complex laparoscopic surgery,laparoscopic tasks performed by single operators are compared against that of dyad teams.Methods:The laparoscopic tasks require subjects to reach,grasp and transport a ring through a rollercoaster obstacle using a pair of laparoscopic graspers.The task was performed either bimanually(using both hands)or unimanually(using their preferred hands)in a dyad team.Results:Twelve participants completed all the tasks.The dyad teams recorded significantly greater number of anticipatory movements than individuals who performed the task bimanually(p<0.05).However,there is no significant difference in the task completion time(p=0.701)and the number of errors(p=0.860)recorded between the dyad and the bimanual group.Conclusion:Compared to a single operator,dyad operators performed the task with greater number of anticipatory movements.The increased movement synchronization can help benefit surgical education and team training.

Initial evaluations of a Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean ocean forecast system in the context of the Deepwater Horizon disaster

In response to the Deepwater Horizon （DwH） oil spill event in 2010, the Naval Oceanographic Office deployed a nowcast-forecast system covering the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent Caribbean Sea that was designated Americas Seas, or AMSEAS, which is documented in this manuscript. The DwH disaster provided a challenge to the application of available ocean-forecast capabilities, and also generated a historically large observational dataset. AMSEAS was evaluated by four complementary efforts, each with somewhat different aims and approaches： a university research consortium within an Integrated Ocean Observing System （IOOS） testbed; a petroleum industry consortium, the Gulf of Mexico 3-D Operational Ocean Forecast System Pilot Prediction Project （GOMEX-PPP）; a British Petroleum （BP） funded project at the Northern Gulf Institute in response to the oil spill; and the Navy itself. Validation metrics are presented in these different projects for water temperature and salinity profiles, sea surface wind, sea surface temperature, sea surface height, and volume transport, for different forecast time scales. The validation found certain geographic and time biases/errors, and small but systematic improvements relative to earlier regional and global modeling efforts. On the basis of these positive AMSEAS validation studies, an oil spill transport simulation was conducted using archived AMSEAS nowcasts to examine transport into the estuaries east of the Mississippi River. This effort captured the influences of Hurricane Alex and a non-tropical cyclone off the Louisiana coast, both of which pushed oil into the western Mississippi Sound, illustrating the importance of the atmospheric influence on oil spills such as DwH.