4th Year Research Articles

20 years of the Bio-Analytic Resource for Plant Biology.

The Bio-Analytic Resource for Plant Biology ('the BAR', at https://bar.utoronto.ca) is celebrating its 20th year in operation in 2025. The BAR encompasses and provides visualization tools for large 'omics data sets from plants. The BAR covers data from Arabidopsis, tomato, wheat, barley and 29 other plant species (with data for 2 others to be released soon). These data include nucleotide and protein sequence data, gene expression data, protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions, protein structures, subcellular localizations, and polymorphisms. The data are stored in more than 200 relational databases holding 186 GB of data and are presented to the researchers via web apps. These web apps provide data analysis and visualization tools. Some of the most popular tools are eFP ('electronic fluorescent pictograph') Browsers, ePlantsand ThaleMine (an Arabidopsis-specific instance of InterMine). The BAR was designated a Global Core Biodata Resource in 2023. Like other GCBRs, the BAR has excellent operational stability, provides access without login requirement, and provides an API for researchers to be able to access BAR data programmatically. We present in this update a new overarching search tool called Gaia that permits easy access to all BAR data, powered by machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Temporal variation of mercury levels in fish, soil, and sediments in an Amazon reservoir: insights from 35years of river impoundment in Pará State, Brazil.

The increase of mercury (Hg) concentrations in abiotic and biotic compartments of aquatic ecosystems following the river impoundment for building a hydroelectric reservoir is one of many environmental and social impacts that the construction of hydroelectric plants can trigger. Yet, long-term studies in Amazon reservoirs are still scarce. The present study aimed to understand the effects of dam impoundment in THg concentrations in an Amazon reservoir up to 35years of its creation. On March 2019 (35th year after filling), samples of fish, soil, and sediments were collected in the Tucuruí reservoir. Total mercury (THg) concentrations were determinate in those samples and compared with data extract from previous studies referring to the 6th, 16th and 18th years after the reservoir filling. Fish from different guilds at the 6th year after filling the Tucuruí reservoir had high THg concentrations, and those decreased in the 16th and 18th years, then the concentrations increased again in the 35th year after filling. For soils and sediments, a decline in THg concentrations was observed. These results differ from previous studies that predicted that Hg concentrations in fish would return to natural concentrations within 30years in temperate zones and no decline of THg concentrations would be observed for Amazonian reservoirs. The Tocantins river drainage basin has been subjected to multiple anthropic disturbances and land use changes over the past decades, such as the implementation of new hydroelectric plants, deforestation, and fires, which can explain our observations. This study contributes valuable long-term insights into the dynamics of Hg concentrations in an Amazonian reservoir, highlighting the complex interactions between environmental changes and Hg accumulation over decades.

Widowhood Shock, Family Reconstruction, and Mild Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), especially among widowed older adults, is increasingly urging public concern. This study aimed to investigate the association of widowhood, remarriage, and widowed life characteristics with the MCI risk among Chinese older adults. With an average age of 86.49 ± 10.20, a sample of 5377 participants aged between 65 and 116 was collected from four waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey between 2008 and 2018. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline models were employed to estimate and plot the associations. Results showed that widowhood is associated with an increasing MCI risk, which could not be alleviated by remarriage. This negative impact was pronounced among women and those at older age. The association of living alone duration after widowhood and MCI onset displayed an inverse U-shape, with a peak risk at the 10th year. These findings have practical implications for pointing out the most vulnerable groups to MCI.

Late corneal ectasia after penetrating and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus.

To investigate tomographic features of late corneal ectasia after keratoplasty for keratoconus and compare penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) in terms of incidence, time of onset and risk factors of corneal ectasia. Sixty eyes with PK and 30 eyes with DALK operated between 1999 and 2021 were analyzed. Final Pentacam scans were evaluated together with vision and previous topographies. Main outcome measures were vision, K values, apparent thinning on graft-host cornea and the difference between opposing quadrants in the thinnest point measurements. Anterior segment optic coherence tomography was performed for further evaluation. Mean follow-up was 127.2mo (24-282mo) in PK, and 64.3mo (24-144mo) in DALK. K max was higher in DALK (60.6 vs 56.7 D, P=0.012). Inferior recipient was thinner (595.9 µm) in PK than DALK (662.2 µm, P=0.021), due to longer follow-up. Overall corneal ectasia rate was 20.0% within 24y. Ectasia rate was the same (6.7%) in DALK 2/30 and in PK 4/60 in 10y and 13.3% in 12y (4/30 and 8/60, respectively). It increased to 23.3% (14/60) in PK over 24y. While ectasia was not seen before 7y in PK, it could be seen in DALK starting from the 5th year. The intervals between keratoplasty and ectasia were 144.5mo in PK and 99mo in DALK. Inferior recipient was significantly thinner in 18 eyes with ectasia (502.7 µm) compared to 76 non-ectasia (649.1 µm, P=0.000). Inferior graft was thinner (561.0 vs 620.4 µm, P=0.006), K max (63.3 vs 56.5 D, P=0.000), and anterior elevation was higher in ectasia (89.1 vs 48.6 µm, P=0.002). Accelerated crosslinking was performed on 5 eyes. Inferior-superior recipient and inferior graft thinning on tomography, with high K max and anterior elevation emerge as the most reliable criteria for the diagnosis of late ectasia. The incidence of corneal ectasia increases with the time.

Carbon and nitrogen stoichiometry across plant-soil system accounts for the degradation of multi-year alfalfa grassland.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grassland is prone to degradation following multi-year maintenance. Yet, its mechanism regarding the stoichiometry of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) across plant-soil system is still unclear. To address this issue, the method of space-for-time sampling was employed to investigate alfalfa grasslands with five planting years (5-, 8-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year periods) in the semiarid Loess Plateau. The results showed that the alfalfa above- and underground biomass decreased steadily decrease after the fifth to eighth years, showing a degradation tendency with the extension of planting duration. The mean weight diameter of aggregate registered an increase with planting years. However, the C and N stocks decreased with planting years in five soil aggregate fractions. Specifically, they were the highest in the fifth year and then started to gradually decrease along the 8th, 10th, 15th, and 20th year. Redundancy and correlation analysis confirmed that the C and N stocks of soil aggregates were closely positively associated with those of plant. Overall, the highest stability of soil physical structure was found during the period from the fifth to eighth year, and, afterward, the stability declined. In conclusion, alfalfa plantation improved soil structure stability but aggravated soil C and N stocks, and biomass and soil aggregate indicators accounted for alfalfa field degradation after a certain year of plantation.

Comparing readiness for self-directed learning in undergraduates of private and public medical colleges.

To measure the readiness for self-directed learning among medical undergraduates of private and public medical colleges, and to evaluate their performance and strategies. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, Pakistan from February to July 2023, and comprised medical undergraduate students of either gender from 1 private and 1 public academic institution. Data was collected using a prevalidated structured questionnaire having self-management, desire for learning, and self-control domains to explore self-directed learning readiness. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. Of the 330 subjects, 166(50.3%) were females and 164(49.7%) males, while 166(50.3%) were from the private institution and 164(49.7%) were from the public institution. There were 183(55.4%) students in the 3rd year, 89(27.0%) in the 4th year and 58(17.6%) in the final year of their coursework. Self-directed learning readiness was significantly higher in students from the private institution (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between self-directed learning readiness in private and public medical education institutions, with readiness being higher in the private sector.

Динамика профессиональной идентичности студентов аграрного колледжа в процессе профессионального обучения

The study aimed to identify the dynamics of professional identity of students of an agricultural college in the process of their professional training. The study was carried out using the cross-sectional method. It involved students of the 1st (n = 42), 3rd (n = 38) and 4th (n = 36) years studying in the areas of agricultural education. To identify the features of the professional identity of respondents, the methodology of A.A. Ozerina was chosen, with the help of which the educational and professional plans of students studying in different years, their professional position, motivation, professional intentions, attitude to the acquired profession and its representatives, self-assessment of themselves as a future specialist were studied. It was revealed that professional training has a positive effect on the formation of professional identity in students of an agricultural college, which is reflected in its positive dynamics from the first to the third year. However, in the final year, due to the crisis of professional training, there is a decrease in the number of students ready to build a professional career in the agro-industrial complex. The study concludes that in the process of professional training of future specialists in the agro-industrial complex, it is necessary to develop and implement targeted programs to form their professional focus on work in the field of the acquired profession. The main areas of such programs should be the development of educational and professional motivation, subjective position, the formation of a positive attitude to the acquired profession through overcoming the stereotypical image of an agricultural worker, fixed in the mass consciousness, the ability and readiness of students to independently and maturely choose their professional future.

La traduction automatique comme ressource pour la traduction humaniste-littéraire : un instrument ‘artificiel’ peut-il transférer un texte essentiellement ‘humain’ et ‘social’ ?

The usefulness of machine translators (MTs) is virtually indisputable. Although, until recently, they could be considered almost the ‘enemy’ of translators, the rise of technology in our profession has changed from a threat to an opportunity to broaden skills and take on new roles (Moorkens, 2018). MT has evolved since its inception and, in particular, Statistical MT (SMT) and Neural Network-based MT (NMT) systems have become very popular. One question that deserves particular attention is whether these automatic resources are just as effective for a humanistic-literary translation as they are for a specialised translation in the scientific-technical field. In this article, we have compared the degree of appropriateness of a corpus of EN&gt;ES translations produced by around one hundred 4th year degree Translation and Interpreting students at the University of Córdoba. The analysis shows, as could be predicted, that, although it is always necessary to revise the automatic target text, in the case of humanistic-literary texts it is essential to use MT only as a basis for a ‘human’ translation. Furthermore, and very pertinently, the students’ translation results were better when the texts were related to their own lives or had social repercussions with which they could sympathise.

Medical students’ perceptions of live versus recorded pathology lectures at a South African medical school during the Covid-19 pandemic: unique lessons for undergraduate pathology education in a diverse student population

Abstract Introduction/Objective The morphological depiction and interactive learning vital to the core discipline of anatomical pathology posed specific challenges during emergency remote teaching (ERT) in the COVID 19 pandemic. Using voice-over PowerPoint presentations (VoPPPs) in anatomical pathology at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa during this time provided a unique opportunity to determine students’ perceptions of this teaching and learning modality. Objective To determine a South African medical students’ perceptions of live lectures vs online learning with VoPPPs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods/Case Report A descriptive, cross-sectional, online survey was sent to 326 4th year medical students in 2020. The questionnaire consisted of closed- and open-ended questions. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were conducted on the quantitative data. Content analysis was performed on the open-ended responses. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) The survey response rate was 56.75%. Respondents preferred the traditional lecture format to the exclusive use of VoPPPs (48.6% to 34.6%) for pathology learning. Respondents appreciated the flexibility of learning from VoPPPs, resulting in blended learning being the preferred approach (45.9% vs 44.3 for live lectures only and 9.7% for VoPPPs only, respectively). Respondents indicated a need for more effective use of VoPPPs regarding the depiction of pathology images, more opportunities for feedback, and more online learning modalities in addition to VoPPPs. Some respondents from rural areas stated that their home study environments were not conducive to online learning modalities. Conclusion Blended learning combines the interactivity possible in contact sessions with the time benefits of online learning for undergraduate pathology education. However, educators should use various online methods rather than relying solely on VoPPPs. This is especially important when considering the visual nature of pathology lectures. Where VoPPPs are used, they should be used effectively, mainly using good quality, labelled images to depict morphology. The preference for blended learning offers exciting possibilities for developing integrated learning platforms in the future, however, these must be tailored to suit the needs of students from economically and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

EVALUATION OF STUDENTS' TRAINING LEVEL IN THE ELECTIVE DISCIPLINE "QUALITY SYSTEMS IN PHARMACY"

The pharmaceutical industry is rapidly developing and implementing new innovative approaches and legal regulation of the quality management system of medicinal products, which includes a set of methods, processes and resources that are necessary for quality management. Therefore, the study by students of the specialty 226 "Pharmacy, industrial pharmacy" of the elective discipline "Quality systems in pharmacy" is an important area of professional training of a qualified specialist who will master the methodology of quality management, normative-legislative and organizational-economic aspects of quality control of medicinal products at pharmaceutical enterprises. Training of domestic students in the field of drug technology is an important direction of pharmaceutical education today. The main tasks of studying the elective discipline "Quality Systems in Pharmacy" are: formation of students of higher education in general knowledge about the quality indicators of medicinal products according to the stage of their life cycle by fulfilling the requirements of proper pharmaceutical practices and developing documentation in accordance with their requirements; formation of practical skills; raising the level of general and scientific development of students of higher education, forming their outlook and perspective as modern qualified specialists in the field of pharmacy. The purpose of the work was to study the assessment of the level of training of domestic students in the elective discipline "Quality Systems in Pharmacy". Materials and methods. We used an empirical research method (questionnaire). Questionnaire was a key research method, as it allows to get answers from the student audience regarding the organization of the educational process. A survey was conducted to assess the level of preparation of domestic students of the 5th year of the Faculty of Pharmacy who completed the study of the selective discipline "Quality Systems in Pharmacy". 50 full-time students and 2 distance learning students took part in the survey. Out of all the respondents, only one studies on budget forms of education. Research results. According to the curriculum, the elective discipline "Quality Systems in Pharmacy" at the Faculty of Pharmacy of IFNMU is studied in the V course in the IX semester, at the stage when students have already acquired basic knowledge of pharmaceutical disciplines. The discipline is chosen by already formed specialists who possess a large stock of theoretical knowledge and practical skills and are motivated to study a new subject, so it remains for the teacher to systematize information for the proper conduct of the discipline study course. 3 ECTS credits are provided for the study of the discipline in the curriculum. The discipline includes 20 hours of lectures, 30 hours of practical classes, 40 hours of independent student work and ends with a module. Lecture and practical material taught at the level of modern scientific and practical data with the aim of forming students' program results. We conducted an analysis of problems in the organization of the educational process for students of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University during full-time education. The success of implementing the selective discipline "Quality Systems in Pharmacy" and ensuring a high level of training depends primarily on the quality of the work of scientific and pedagogical workers.

Analysis of the impact of pre-professional education on the health of medical students

BACKGROUND: Education in a higher educational institution is critical for students due to the vulnerability of the young body and the exposure of young men and women to the impact of adverse factors that contribute to health disorders. The solution to the problem of the observed deterioration of the health of students of medical higher educational institutions is currently very acute, since this problem is directly related to the health of future health workers and determines the future of the country. AIM: To assess the health status of students of the Institute of Clinical Medicine named after N.V. Sklifosovsky of Sechenov University on the example of graduates of the Resource Center «Medical Sechenov Pre-University» of the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University) in a comparative aspect with graduates of other educational institutions. METHODS: A single-stage selective comparative study of the morbidity rate of students of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine of Sechenov University was carried out. The data of the registration form «No 025/у» 1–6-year students for the period from 2018 to 2024 (n=2229, including 414 graduates of the Pre-University) were used. Data analysis was performed using Pearson's χ2 test with Yates correction. The significance level was set as p 0.05. Numerical data are presented with absolute and relative values. RESULTS: It was shown that the number of students assigned to the first and second health groups among Pre-University graduates was higher overall, and the number of those assigned to the third health group was lower compared to their peers who were not Pre-University graduates (p 0.01). An increase in the overall morbidity of students by the sixth year was noted, but to a lesser extent among Pre-University graduates (p 0.001). All students have more frequent eye and apparatus diseases. The second and third places were occupied by diseases of the nervous system and diseases of the respiratory organs. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue were less common. CONCLUSION: The lower morbidity rate among the graduates of the Pre-University is presumably due to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and rejection of harmful habits during the pre-professional education phase. The data obtained show the need to strengthen work on the identification and prevention of factors of educational environment, reducing the effectiveness of medical and educational measures for the formation of health status of students at the stage of pre-specific education.

A prediction model for the walking and balance milestone in Parkinson's disease

BackgroundWalking and balance impairments, represented by freezing of gait and falls, are significant contributors to disability in advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. However, the composite measure of the Walking and Balance Milestone (WBMS) has not been thoroughly investigated. MethodsThis study included 606 early-stage PD patients from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database, with a disease duration of less than 2 years and no WBMS at baseline. Patients were divided into a model development cohort (70 %) and a validation cohort (30 %) according to the enrollment site. Longitudinal follow-up data over a period of 12 years were analyzed. ResultsAmong all 606 patients, the estimated probability of being WBMS-free at the 5th and 10th year was 88 % and 60 %, respectively. Five clinical variables (Age, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD) score, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part I (MDS-UPDRS-I) score, and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) were used to construct the Cox predictive model. The C-index of the model was 0.75 in the development cohort and 0.76 in the validation cohort. By optimizing the PIGD and MDS-UPDRS-I variables, an easy-to-use model was achieved with comparable predictive performance. ConclusionA predictive model based on five baseline clinical measures (Age, SDMT, PIGD score, MDS-UPDRS-I score, RBD) could effectively estimate the risk of the WBMS in early PD patients. This model is valuable for prognostic counseling and clinical intervention trials for gait and balance impairment.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of Italian dental students toward HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer and vaccination: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a leading cause of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC). This study aimed to carry out a Knowledge, Attitude and Perception survey on HPV infection, HPV+ OPSCC, and HPV vaccination among Italian dental students.MethodsThrough an online self-administered questionnaire consisting of 82 questions, data on dental students’ sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions concerning HPV+ OPSCC, infection and vaccination were acquired. A statistical analysis, based on their year of attendance (early career, from 1st to 3rd year vs. late career, from 4th to 6th year) was also conducted.ResultsA total of 412 dental students completed the questionnaire. Knowledge of HPV+ OPSCC was reported by 61% of early-career students and 73% of late-career students, with high awareness of the HPV-OPSCC correlation in both groups (85% vs. 89%, respectively). The percentage of correct responses regarding HPV infection knowledge was 61% for early-career and 73% for late-career students, while vaccine knowledge was 70% and 78%, respectively. Over 90% of students acknowledged the dentist’s role in educating patients about HPV and OPSCC, and attitudes toward discussing HPV and vaccination were positive. However, only about half would recommend the vaccine to either gender. Statistically significant differences were found between early- and late-career groups across all knowledge sections (p < 0.001), while no significant differences emerged for perception (p = 0.076) or attitude (p = 0.147).ConclusionsThe study reveals encouraging results but highlights significant gaps in dental students’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward HPV+ OPSCC, infection, and vaccination. Addressing these gaps through targeted education and training in dental curricula could improve HPV prevention awareness and patient education, ultimately enhancing public health outcomes.

No Effect of Low-Dose Glucocorticoid Maintenance Therapy on Damage in SLE Patients in Prolonged Remission: A Propensity Score Analysis of the Longitudinal Lupus-Cruces-Bordeaux Inception Cohort

Background/Objectives: Prolonged remission on low-dose glucocorticoids (GC) is a main goal in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study is to assess whether GC ≤ 5 mg/d increases the risk of damage accrual in patients with SLE in prolonged remission. Methods: Observational study of routine clinical care data of the inception Lupus Cruces-Bordeaux cohort. Only patients in DORIS remission during five consecutive yearly visits were included. The endpoint was damage accrual during the 5-year follow-up, either global or specific damage: GC-induced, cardiovascular (CV), lupus and other. Patients no longer on GC therapy by year 5 (GC5-Off) were compared with those who continued GC therapy (GC5-On). Comparisons were made by Cox and Poisson regressions, which were adjusted with propensity score (PE) in order to control for confounding by indication. Results: 132 patients were included, 56 in the GC5-On and 76 in the GC5-Off groups. All patients were on GC ≤ 5 mg/d for the whole follow-up, the mean prednisone dose in the GC5-On group being 2.96 mg/d during the whole study period and 2.6 mg/d during the 5th year. Fourteen patients (10.6%) accrued damage. More patients in the GC5-On group accrued global damage, 16% vs. 7% in the GC5-Off group, p = 0.08, mainly at CV domains (7% vs. 1%, respectively, p = 0.16). In the PS-adjusted Cox and Poisson regressions, the GC5-On group was not significantly associated with global (p = 0.39) or CV damage accrual (p = 0.62), nor with the absolute (p = 0.40) or CV-restricted final SDI scores (p = 0.63). The C-index of the propensity score model was 0.79. Conclusions: Maintaining doses of prednisone &lt; 5 mg/d in lupus patients in prolonged remission is not associated with an increased risk of damage accrual.

Language mediation training and the foreign‑language effect in moral decision‑making*

Abstract Moral cognition is an emerging field investigating the cognitive underpinnings of moral judgement and moral decision-making. Of particular interest for Cognitive Translation and Interpreting Studies (CTIS) is the impact of the use of a foreign language on the cognitive processes associated with moral decision making, what has been labeled “Foreign Language Effect” (FLE). Using a second language has been reported to reduce decision-making biases, doing away with framing effects in risk aversion settings. At the same time, moral dilemmas posed in a second language prompt more utilitarian responses than when presented in the subjects’ native tongues. These results beg the following question for the CTIS scholar: does language mediation training mitigate the FLE? This paper reports on an exploratory study investigating the impact of language mediation training on the FLE. Drawing from Costa et al. (2014), 1st and 4th year, bilingual students in a Translation and Interpreting degree are presented with the trolley dilemma both in their L1, L2, and L3. Initial results seem to indicate that language mediation training might have an impact on the FLE. However, the limitations of the study suggest the need for further exploration of the intersection between language mediation training and the FLE.

Comparative toxicogenomics database's 20th anniversary: update 2025.

For 20 years, the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD; https://ctdbase.org) has provided high-quality, literature-based curated content describing how environmental chemicals affect human health. Today, CTD includes over 94 million toxicogenomic connections relating chemicals, genes/proteins, phenotypes, anatomical terms, diseases, comparative species, pathwaysand exposures. In this 20th year anniversary update, we reflect on CTD's remarkable growth and provide an overview of the increased data content and new features, including enhancements to the curation workflow (e.g. new exposure curation tool and expanded use of natural language processing), added functionality (e.g. improvements to CTD Tetramers and Pathway View tools)and significant upgrades to software and infrastructure. Linking lab-based core curation with real-world human exposure curation via the use of controlled vocabularies facilitates analysis of content across the entire environmental health continuum, from molecular toxicological mechanisms to the population level,and vice versa. The 'prototype database' originally described in 2004 has evolved into a premier, sophisticated, highly citedand well-engineered knowledgebase and discoverybase that is utilized by scientists worldwide to design testable hypotheses about environmental health.

Identifying group metacognition associated with medical students’ teamwork satisfaction in an online small group tutorial context

BackgroundCollaborative learning is an essential pedagogy in medical education, within which small group learning constitutes an integral component. Online small group teaching has been widely applied and blended with in-person sessions in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. This study examined whether group metacognition was associated with teamwork satisfaction in an online small group teaching curriculum for medical students.MethodsWe enrolled medical students of the 2nd and 4th years during the 2021 fall semester after they participated in 3 consecutive sessions of online small group tutorials (SGTs), which have been implemented in our medical school for more than 20 years. The students completed a group metacognitive scale (GMS) and a teamwork satisfaction scale (TSS) after the sessions. We analyzed whether group metacognition in 4 dimensions (knowledge of cognition, planning, evaluating, and monitoring) could be connected with medical students’ teamwork satisfaction using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).ResultsA total of 263 medical students participated in this study. Both GMS and TSS exhibited good reliability and validity. Three of the 4 dimensions of group metacognition (cognition, planning, and evaluating) positively correlated with teamwork satisfaction (path coefficients 0.311, 0.279, and 0.21; p = 0.002, 0.002, and 0.043, respectively) following the online SGT curriculum, whereas the monitoring dimension did not (path coefficient 0.087; p = 0.357). The model achieved an adjusted R square of 0.683.ConclusionWe discovered that group metacognition correlated positively with better teamwork satisfaction, supporting the importance of group metacognitive competency for online collaborative learning.

Primate focused conservation education in Paraguay: Doing something Para La Tierra.

Over 91% of the Paraguayan Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest has been cleared and the Gran Chaco is the fastest disappearing habitat on the continent. One of the compounding issues for conservation in Paraguay is the lack of knowledge of the importance of nature amongst the population. Fundación Para La Tierra (PLT) began the country's first Eco-Club program, "Voces de la Naturaleza" (Voices of Nature), in 2016. Three of the curriculums participatory lessons focus on primate conservation. These lessons formed the basis of PLT's Atlantic Forest education programme in 2018 when the team began visiting 22 schools around San Rafael (Tekoha Guasu). To date 26 schools (1,500+ children) across two political departments and four districts have participated in this programme which is now entering its 6th year. The biggest challenges have included the COVID-19 pandemic and the logistics and costs involved in reaching rural and remote schools. Though it is too soon to record observable behavioural change ongoing monitoring over the six year period indicates that children remember the information gained through the participatory methods for several years. We believe that the main reasons for the success of this programme are the collaborations that we have built with the teachers of the schools based on open communication and mutual respect. Though costs can be an issue when beginning, or running, a long-term project we recommend that potential educators not be put off trying and that a lot of good can be achieved with a small amount of funding.

Bringing awareness of the sensing body – Dance for Health at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

ABSTRACT Dance for Health at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) was established in 2014 as a participatory programme for inpatients on the wards at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Co-founded and led by dance artist Filipa Pereira-Stubbs, Dance for Health has grown in its practice, becoming a flagship programme that has supported over 6,000 patients, staff and family members. In its 10th anniversary year, this article sets out to provide a reflective insight into the work, with authors CUH Head of Arts, Natalie Ellis, and Filipa Pereira Stubbs looking back on the evolution of the programme, the context within which it operates as an ongoing artist-led intervention in an acute hospital setting, and the space it occupies in the day-to-day life of a busy teaching hospital. The article delves into the creative practice at the heart of Dance for Health, describing the shape and structure of the sessions, and gives an insight into the experiences of participants. The article considers the outcomes for patients and staff involved in the programme, and reflects on the contributions made to the provision of care on the wards.

Promoting Patient Care Ownership in Medical Students through Standardized Simulations

Background:Professional identity formation (PIF) has been demonstrated to play an important role in medical students' transition from a peripheral role into becoming a physician that bears primary responsibility for the care of their patients1,2. Multiple factors influence this development, including clinical experiences as well as sociocultural, familial, academic, moral, religious, and gender-based roles, values, beliefs, and obligations. Many of these factors can be emulated in simulations to encourage this merging of identities; the most critical of which is patient care ownership (PCO)6. This study was conducted on the 4th year medical students at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) and compares a self-reported PCO index score amongst the various subsets. These include main vs regional campus assignment for clinical years, gender identity, ethnicity, and prior healthcare experience before medical school. Methods:For this study, we distributed a questionnaire developed by Avey et al. (2009) and adapted by Wyatt et al.11 (2023) to evaluate the feelings and opinions of medical students regarding their level of patient care ownership11,16,17. To evaluate the effects of the longitudinal simulation curriculum on PCO as measured with the survey instrument index scores, independent sample t-tests and ANOVA between different groups with a Tukey HSD multiple-comparison post-hoc were done. Groups analyzed for differences included campus, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and prior experience in the healthcare field. Results: A total of 201 students were invited to participate in this study. There was no statistically significant difference between students from main and regional campuses in PCO index scores. When comparing between gender identities of male, female, and nonbinary, there was no significant difference (p = 0.248). Comparing ethnicities did not show any significant differences (p = 0.936). Finally, there was no significant difference in PCO index scores between students in regard to their prior healthcare experiences (p = 0.155). Conclusion:This study highlights the importance of a comprehensive and intentionally-designed simulation curriculum to prompt PCO in order to facilitate PIF prior to residency, for the purpose of producing more confident and competent intern physicians2. Conflict of interest: none Treatment of human and animal subjects: not applicable