Core Disciplines Research Articles

Evolution of Master of Public Health Core Curriculum: Trends and Insights.

Revised accreditation criteria from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in 2016 prompted schools and programs of public health to shift their master of public health (MPH) core curricula. Our objective was to provide data on revisions to MPH core curricula at CEPH-accredited schools and programs of public health and other descriptive statistics on the MPH core curriculum and required courses as of 2023. We analyzed data from 67 accredited schools of public health and 130 accredited public health programs to assess changes from 2016 to 2023 in the MPH core curriculum. We examined the number of courses, the proportion of credit hours in the core curriculum, core curriculum composition, and course types. Almost half (49.2%) of schools, but only 16.9% of programs, made extensive changes to their MPH core curricula, an overall increase of 153.6% from 2020 to 2023. Approximately one-fifth of schools and programs made few to no changes to their core curricula and retained core courses in the 5 former core disciplines. On average, core curriculum credit hours comprised 37.8% of total credit hours for schools and 51.7% for programs. Half (50.0%) of all programs in the sample offered single-concentration MPH degrees. Schools and programs were more likely to continue requiring traditional biostatistics (81.7%) and epidemiology (81.2%) courses in the core curriculum compared with environmental health (69.0%), social and behavioral health (61.9%), and health policy and management (42.1%). Most schools and programs modified their MPH core curricula, reflecting a departure from traditional public health courses toward innovative approaches to ensure knowledge and skill proficiency of graduates. Future research will determine if these curricular changes improve the knowledge and skill proficiency of public health graduates and the workforce.

Bad-Mad-Female. Scientific Analyses of Female Violent Crime from the 1960s to the 1990s

While female capital offences have repeatedly caused astir since the beginning of the modern era at the latest, female violent crime has remained amarginal phenomenon in statistical observations for along time. Forensics, with its traditional core disciplines of psychiatry and law, also remained focused on the dangerous male perpetrator for along time in its analysis and theory development beyond infanticide: male forensic scientists analysed male perpetrators of violence.Since the 1960s, there has been an increasing number of scientific contributions on female criminality and its causes in West Germany. Women were now also analysing female criminality from aprofessional as well as from asocially critical perspective; adevelopment that gained significant momentum with the New Women's Movement and Critical Criminology.The article puts an emphasis on the discourse on female violent crime in the "old" Federal Republic of Germany. It starts out by framing the issue of women's violent crime in criminological discourse. Against this background, it examines how gender-specific constructions of criminality developed, especially in the discussion of the "dangerous mentally ill" in forensic discussion forums, how and to what extent which topoi were perpetuated and which were subject to changes. Did the analyses of female scientists differ from those of their male colleagues? What significance did critical or feminist currents or actors have?In view of social change processes (emancipation, psychiatric reform, criminal law reform), the article examines the interpretation of female violence and the connection between gender, dangerousness and mental illness. It focuses on the question of persistence, dynamisation or diversification of gender-specific constructions and normative concepts of normal/crazy in the forensic conflation of "bad and mad".

Exploration of Taxation Curriculum Construction based on OBE Concept

With the advent of the digital and information age, the traditional education model of talent cultivation is no longer able to meet market demand, and there is an urgent need for a transformation in educational philosophy and a reconstruction of the curriculum and teaching process. The article takes the core discipline of taxation in the financial system as the research object, analyzes the problems and reasons in its teaching objectives, teaching content, teaching implementation, and teaching evaluation, and based on the OBE concept, proposes suggestions for the construction of learning outcomes, curriculum objectives, curriculum content reconstruction, and evaluation methods in taxation to meet the individual growth needs of students and adapt to the market's demand for tax related talents.

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.

Exploring feasibility of vision-based automated evaluation during laboratory courses in manufacturing

Manual assessment of laboratory exercises and assignments by human instructors is subjective and time-consuming, introducing errors, inconsistencies, and biases. A preliminary study developing an automated evaluation system utilizing computer vision has been proposed in this article to address these challenges. It utilizes computer vision to assess the accuracy and quality of components machined by students enrolled during the manufacturing laboratory course. The system includes image acquisition hardware, algorithms for objective decisions, and an interface for evaluating student performance. The system is implemented during one of the laboratory classes, and a comparative assessment is carried out with manual evaluations followed by student feedback. It has been shown that the system can address subjectivity concerns, reducing the workload on course instructors and teaching assistants. The research also broadens the utility of computer vision in manufacturing education and creates interest among enrolled students to appreciate the role of newer technologies in a core discipline.

The big global issues: Applied linguists and transdisciplinarity beyond SLA

AbstractIn an age of persistent existential crises, governments and wider society are demanding from academia tangible contributions toward tackling the “big” contemporary issues, including climate change, demographic collapse, social instability, and the risks of escalating global conflict. Since all such problems involve a linguistic dimension, applied linguists are increasingly repurposing their research skills to achieve impact in such domains, far beyond the traditional scope of their core discipline. This paper discusses doing so within the distinctive framework of the Zurich approach to transdisciplinarity. Core features of the Zurich approach are sketched, and a case is made for applied linguists working alongside scientists, engineers, lawyers, and others in transdisciplinary teams focused on wicked problems.

Practical Exploration of the Concurrent Emphasis on Civics and Professionalism in the Teaching of Accounting Majors

Promoting the design of ideological and political curriculum and integrating ideological and political education into vocational education can help students establish ambitious ideals and correct values. Accounting, as a core discipline, is of great significance for the integration of ideological and political education.This paper analyzes and explains the necessity of integrating ideological and political elements in accounting education, discusses the design of integrating ideological and political elements in accounting education, and finally proposes how to provide guidelines for the teaching of accounting majors in colleges and universities.The purpose is to explore how accounting education can effectively combine theory and achieve an organic combination between ideological and political education and professional accounting teaching.

Sowing the seeds of sustainability: the curriculum shift in agrarian technician training

Sustainability and rural development stand at the forefront of addressing pressing global challenges, from environmental degradation to social inequality. As we navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the role of education in shaping the perspectives and actions of future professionals in agrarian and rural sectors becomes paramount. This study explores the integration of sustainability principles within the curriculum of the Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) at the State Agricultural College of Toledo (CAET), located in the municipality of Toledo, Paraná, Brazil. By juxtaposing the curriculum's emphasis with students' perceptions of sustainability discussions across various disciplines, the investigation reveals a strong association between agriculture and sustainability. Agriculture emerges as the most frequently mentioned discipline among students, with agroecology closely following, underscoring its significance in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, disciplines like Horticulture, Environmental Management, and Soils also receive notable mentions, suggesting their roles in addressing sustainability challenges within the agricultural sector. Interestingly, despite the curriculum not explicitly predicting the connection between certain disciplines, such as Horticulture, and sustainability topics, the teaching approach adopted by instructors appears aligned with sustainability conversations. However, a discrepancy exists between the perceived importance of sustainability discussions in core disciplines and their actual occurrence, suggesting a potential gap in integration by teachers. Addressing this gap may require investing in targeted education and training for teachers to ensure a more comprehensive incorporation of sustainability principles across all disciplines. This study highlights the need for a more deliberate and holistic approach to embedding sustainability in agrarian education, ensuring that future professionals are well-equipped to drive sustainable rural development.

The Implementation of Digital Humanities in the State Islamic University Libraries in Indonesia

State Islamic University libraries are striving to become research libraries. Since humanities are the core discipline in most State Islamic Universities, a new service concept—digital humanities—has been introduced to support research activities. This study explores the implementation of digital humanities in three State Islamic University libraries: UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, and UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang. This research employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing data collection techniques such as interviews, observations, and documentation. The findings reveal that while the libraries have sufficient librarians, their involvement in research activities is not extensive or proactive. Additionally, the facilities and infrastructure necessary to support digital humanities are inadequate. Although policies supporting digital humanities exist, there is a lack of strategic programs to explore and fully enhance library use and involvement in research. Furthermore, internal cooperation between institutions has been established but remains limited, indicating a need for libraries to adopt a more proactive role. These insights underscore the challenges and opportunities in implementing digital humanities within State Islamic University libraries, providing a foundation for future strategic initiatives to enhance their research support capabilities.

Creating a STEAM project with students as an indicator of the effectiveness of training future biologists

Relevance. In the modern world, biology is becoming an increasingly complex and multidimensional science that encompasses numerous subfields. Therefore, future specialists in this field need to possess not only deep knowledge of core disciplines but also a broad outlook, including competencies in technology, mathematics, and the arts. Purpose. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of training focused on the creation of STEAM projects in terms of training future biologists. Methodology. The methodology of the study included the analysis of 41 projects conducted by 11 teachers of higher educational institutions in Kazakhstan for 5 years. Project classification methods included such aspects as the integration of educational material, problem-solving, search for answers to scientific questions, development of technical devices, cooperation of students, biological content of projects, high involvement and quality of assessment, and creativity. Data collection was conducted through direct observations in classrooms and at events and conducting interviews with teachers. Results. The results showed that specialised teachers of biological disciplines, as a rule, avoided transdisciplinary projects, while teachers of non-biological disciplines often overlooked biological content in interdisciplinary projects. Biology teachers often avoided teaching methods based on device development, but they emphasised high standards of knowledge and fostered a positive perception of their disciplines through projects that involved discussion and meaningful feedback. Conclusions. The research findings indicate that combining conventional teaching methods with integrated approaches to delivering the material can be a way to solidify fundamental biological knowledge necessary for further, more advanced education, and prepare students to apply their knowledge and skills in practical situations. The results obtained can be used in pedagogical practice for the effective implementation of project-oriented learning. Keywords: pedagogy for higher education; interdisciplinary training; integration of educational material; practical training; quality of assessment

Editorial

Represent the Organizing Committee of The 1st International Conference on Applied Physics and Mathematics (ICAPM2023). The conference was a great success providing appropriate platform to researchers, scholars and industry practitioners to share their work and experience on the Changsha, China in different sectors.In today’s era, the research and development of Applied Physics can be considered very valuable, it also has been a buzzword in recent times majorly in last few years. Almost every research and scholar is getting involved in this context to derive significant and tangible gains to the benefit of the society as a whole.And as we know, Applied Physics is generally considered to be composite because it contains several cross cutting core disciplines, such as Semiconductor Physics, Nanoscale physics, Electronics Design & Manufacturing and GIS/GPS Systems, etc. The basic concepts and technologies of these disciplines have been combined to form the basis of Applied Physics. These technologies can help people generate important insights to support further decisions. However, the application of Applied Physics is very challenging, which leads to the diversity of its development. Since the past few decades, Applied Physics has been one of the most interesting fields. It has recently become an inevitable part of our daily life by adding technology to solve practical problems.The 1st International Conference on Applied Physics and Mathematics (ICAPM2023) focuses on works that have been done for development of new technology or enhancement of the existing ones to make them applicable in diverse range of sectors and corresponding problems. We have received a good number of responses of around 65 papers from researchers, scholars and industry practitioners covering a wide range of application areas.According to their quality, degree of conformity with our topics and other indicators, we finally received 23 articles.We hope this proceeding will provide valuable insights and serve for new scholars interested to explore Applied physics, Application of applied physics and Mathmatics in various sectors.Editor:Xilong QuList of Committees are available in this Pdf.

Requisite Skills for University Students Considering Future Job Demands and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030

The study aims to investigate the necessary skills for university students in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the requirements of future professions. The study adopted a descriptive and analytical method, relying on two data sources: secondary data obtained through the analysis of relevant previous studies, resulting in a proposed list of future professions and the main categories of required skills. The second source was primary data, presenting proposed professions and skills to 76 experts and academics in various core disciplines. After verifying the validity and reliability of the survey, it was applied, and data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods (Mean, standard deviation, and Percentage) to estimate the sample's responses to professions and skills. Inferential statistics (T-test & ANOVA) were used to detect the impact of sample variable differences on their estimation of professions and skills. The study identified 15 suggested future professions and a list of future skills categorized into three main groups: Personal Skills (7 key skills), Learning Skills (5 key skills), and Technical and Digital Skills (9 key skills).

How Can Proteomics Help to Elucidate the Pathophysiological Crosstalk in Muscular Dystrophy and Associated Multi-System Dysfunction?

This perspective article is concerned with the question of how proteomics, which is a core technique of systems biology that is deeply embedded in the multi-omics field of modern bioresearch, can help us better understand the molecular pathogenesis of complex diseases. As an illustrative example of a monogenetic disorder that primarily affects the neuromuscular system but is characterized by a plethora of multi-system pathophysiological alterations, the muscle-wasting disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy was examined. Recent achievements in the field of dystrophinopathy research are described with special reference to the proteome-wide complexity of neuromuscular changes and body-wide alterations/adaptations. Based on a description of the current applications of top-down versus bottom-up proteomic approaches and their technical challenges, future systems biological approaches are outlined. The envisaged holistic and integromic bioanalysis would encompass the integration of diverse omics-type studies including inter- and intra-proteomics as the core disciplines for systematic protein evaluations, with sophisticated biomolecular analyses, including physiology, molecular biology, biochemistry and histochemistry. Integrated proteomic findings promise to be instrumental in improving our detailed knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms and multi-system dysfunction, widening the available biomarker signature of dystrophinopathy for improved diagnostic/prognostic procedures, and advancing the identification of novel therapeutic targets to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Scientists’ disciplinary characteristics and collaboration behaviour under the convergence paradigm: A multilevel network perspective

The convergence paradigm underlines the importance of integrating multiple disciplines through collaboration. However, the crucial question of how scientists' disciplinary characteristics influence scientific collaboration remains unresolved. Using an exponential random graph model for multilevel networks, this study provides insights into the impact of scientists' disciplinary characteristics on their collaborative behaviour based on data from the Materials Genome Initiative, a typical convergence field. These results show that: under the convergence paradigm, scientists with a greater number of affiliated disciplines or with greater disparities in knowledge systems among their affiliated disciplines are less active in collaboration, whereas scientists with more balanced competence across their affiliated disciplines are more active. Scientists are more likely to collaborate with people who have a similar ability to integrate multidisciplinary knowledge. Scientists with a focus on applied disciplines are more likely to collaborate than are those with a preference for basic disciplines. Scientists who focus more on peripheral and external disciplines are more active in collaboration than scientists who focus on core and internal disciplines. Scientists collaborate based on shared disciplines and utilise the unique disciplines of their collaborators to advance knowledge and thus expand their own research space. This study provides evidence for the selection of partners based on scientists' disciplinary characteristics and highlights its importance for interdisciplinary teams and project management.

Requirements for Teaching Experience and Pedagogical Training Among Public Health PhD Programs

The purpose of this study was to determine how public health PhD students from each of the core disciplines of public health are trained in teaching. The websites of CEPH accredited PhD programs in the core disciplines of public health were searched for degree requirements that included teaching experience and/or pedagogical training. Of the 244 PhD programs included in this study, only 87 (35%) required teaching assistant experience. In terms of training, only 43 programs (17%) required doctoral students to be trained to teach, with just over half of those trainings being for-credit. The topics that were covered in the trainings were analyzed, with the three most common being: assessing student learning (e.g., assignments, rubrics, exams), designing a course syllabus, and implementing active learning strategies. In all, this study provided additional evidence for the need of doctoral public health programs to require PhD students to acquire more teaching experience and pedagogical knowledge.

Knowledge Structure of New Energy Vehicle Policy Research

Globally, transport is responsible for 23% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions and 80% of these emissions are attributable to road transport. Significant transformations, including extensive electrification of the sector, are necessary to achieve climate change goals. To understand new energy vehicle (NEV) policy research, we explore the status, knowledge base and research frontiers of NEV policy research by studying 355 papers collected from the Web of Science™ (WoS) Core Collection database. We map NEV policy research trends and knowledge structure development using knowledge domain technology and bibliometric techniques. The knowledge base analysis shows that: (a) NEV policy formation and evaluation; (b) policy incentives and consumer adoption; and (c) consumer preferences towards NEV adoption are all essential knowledge foundations in NEV policy research and development (R&D). The efficiency of NEV policy, cost-effectiveness of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), consumer preferences for NEV adoption, hydrogen energy and fuel cell vehicles, climate policy and CO2 emissions are five main lines of research in NEV policy studies. With the highest number of publications from Tsinghua University, China is the most active country in NEV policy research. Energy Policy, Sustainability and Journal of Cleaner Production are the core journals and Energy and Fuels and Environmental Sciences are the core disciplines of NEV policy research. The findings of this analysis help policymakers and researchers to navigate the literature on NEV, provide a clear map of existing works, identify the gaps and recommend promising avenues for future studies.

A Millenium’s Worth of Good Ideas: Celebrating 10 of the Biggest Upstream Innovations Since 1999

You’ve read it in the editorials of JPT or heard it preached from the podium at one of the industry’s technical conferences over the years: The oil and gas industry is notoriously slow to innovate and adopt new technologies. But what if it just wasn’t so? Since 1999, the slow-moving oil and gas industry has only managed to push the needle from 75 million B/D to more than 102 million B/D—a remarkable 36% increase in global supply. This growth came in spite of what turned out to be fairly valid concerns openly expressed by many a quarter century ago that all the so-called “easy oil” had been discovered. Much of the world’s new supply indeed flows out from complex and/or difficult-to-access reservoirs that in 1999 were far from the minds of most. This includes the rise of the North America’s tight oil and gas plays, the deepwater sector, and a myriad of other megaprojects from Sakhalin to Kashagan to Manifa that have each pushed the petroleum engineering envelope to new limits. This is to say that the year 1999 represents an interesting turning point in the industry’s technological journey. It was a time when industry professionals, along with the rest of the word, were wondering what changes a new millennium would bring. As it turned out, many of the key technologies that made the aforementioned developments and others possible were just emerging in 1999 but the impact they would soon have was hardly clear. 1999 is also a useful signpost because odds are, the time that has passed since represents the majority or the entirety of your career—this is your defining era. According to our data, the average age of SPE membership in 2022 was 48. This would make the average member a 24-year-old back in 1999 which suggests that most of those reading this were at that point still in petroleum engineering school or just getting their feet wet in the industry. It’s also the case that 1999 was the last time JPT editors took the opportunity to celebrate the publication as it turned 50 years old that year. Now, as JPT welcomes its 75th anniversary, we are once again reflecting on the progress that’s filled the pages of this publication. As I thought of ways to commemorate the moment, one of the ideas that came to mind was a list of the most impactful technological developments to arise since our last big birthday bash. To keep the exercise focused I considered only those technologies which have led to some significant change in the core disciplines of drilling, completions, and reservoir engineering. Lists are nothing new to us and, in fact, my late father penned one several years ago for JPT. Steve Jacobs, an offshore roughneck turned oilfield entrepreneur and lifetime SPE member, acknowledged that list making is a tricky business in a guest editorial written about his top 10 all-time great oilfield technologies back in 2010. His way of measuring a technology’s impact boiled down to how hard it would be for the industry to live without it. The biggest pitfall of the exercise, though, is that there are always a few technologies left off that warrant reconsideration. “But,” as my father wrote, “that is the fun of compiling such a list—discussing and arguing which ‘players’ should make such an all-star, all-time ‘team.’” With that, and in no particular order, I present my selection of the top 10 technological breakthroughs of the past quarter century.

Exploration of gender-determined differences in the level of university students’ diligence

Introduction. The article examines how students’ gender determines their diligence in studying core and non-core disciplines, as well as how the level of diligence changes during the transition from the secondary school to the university. The purpose of this article is to identify the level of gender-determined first-year students’ diligence, based on their self-assessment. Materials and Methods. The research follows the structural-functional and aspect-based approaches. In order to achieve the purpose of the research, the authors used theoretical (analysis, synthesis, generalization and systematization of scientific publications) and empirical (questionnaire) methods. Statistical data processing was carried out using the Student's t-test and correlation analysis methods. The experimental research consisting of two stages was conducted at Tyumen State University. At the first stage, the sample consisted of 232 students; at the second stage it included 221 first-year students of various fields of study. The total sample was 453 people, including 242 men and 211 women. Results. It was revealed that the diligence of female students statistically significantly exceeds the diligence of male students in studying core and non-core disciplines at the secondary school, as well as in studying non-core disciplines in the first year of the university. Statistically significant differences in the level of diligence in studying core disciplines at the university between male and female students were not revealed. It is shown that during the transition from the secondary school to the university, diligence in core disciplines does not significantly change in male students, while a small but statistically significant decrease in diligence was recorded in female students. In the first year of university, diligence in non-core disciplines increases statistically significantly in both male and female students. It is established that there are weak correlations between the level of diligence in core disciplines at the secondary school and at the university, in non-core disciplines at the secondary school and at the university, as well as in core and non-core disciplines, regardless of the student’s gender. The reasons for weak correlations require additional study. The conclusions about the influence of various factors on the academic performance of students (determined by the student’s gender) made by the authors at the first stage of the study are confirmed. Conclusions. Based on the self-assessment of first-year university students, statistically significant changes in the level of their diligence during the transition from the secondary school to the university were revealed, as well as statistically significant differences in the level of diligence in studying core and non-core disciplines determined by the student’s gender.

CREATIVE TASK AS A FORM OF FINAL CONTROL FOR FUTURE JOURNALISTS: THE VIEWPOINT OF STUDENTS

The article is devoted to the issue of final control for core disciplines in the specialty 061 «Journalism». The survey of more than 100 students of the Department of Journalism in V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University was held. It is presenting the students’ vision of a creative task as a form of verification test or exam. The questions were about the distribu- tion of points for certain types of tasks, features of creative tasks’ preparation, problems of creative tasks’ production in the distance learning setting etc. The survey provided different forms of answers: both option selection and extended comments. Questionnaires were filled out by students of the Bachelor and Master levels, full-time and correspondence courses and by graduates of the Department of Journalism.It was found that the majority of students see the creative task as a mandatory component of the verification test or exam. At the same time, the ideal form of final control is considered to be combined (a presentation of a creative task and a theory test). It was established that journalism students prefer individual production of creative works, although they assume team formats.The main challenges for future journalists in the distance learning setting within the context of creative tasks’ production are highlighted. It was found that after the beginning of the full-scale phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the number of difficulties increased and they became more frequently related to the inner state of students. A search for motivation or inspiration, work under stress, finding topics for materials are most often mentioned problems by respondents. The problems of education organizing by universities have faded into the background compared to the quarantine restrictions’ period caused by the coronavirus pandemic.It was concluded that despite the existing difficulties of the distance learning, students still consider a creative task as a form of final control for core disciplines in the both prepared in advance and done during the exam ways.

The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the ‘Joint Action on Rare Cancers’ project

Background/purposeTo reduce inequalities among SIOPE-affiliated countries, standard and optional levels to deliver ‘Good Clinical Practice’ compliant treatment in pediatric radiation oncology have been published. The aim of this project was to map the availability of pediatric radiotherapy resources across SIOPE-affiliated radiotherapy departments. Materials/methodsAn online survey with 34 questions was distributed to 246 radiotherapy departments across 35 SIOPE-affiliated countries. In addition to demographic data, 15 general items related to the organization of the radiotherapy process, and 10 radiotherapy-specific items were defined. For each of the 25 items, sum scores were calculated per center and country. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze associations. ResultsBetween March-June 2019, 121 departments (49 %) out of 31 countries (89 %) completed the survey. At center level, involvement of core disciplines in tumor boards (28 %), and integration of dedicated pediatric radiation therapy technologists (24 %) are limited, while rare & complex brachytherapy procedures are performed in many centers (23 %). For general and radiotherapy-specific items respectively, a relevant variation of sum scores was observed across countries (Δgeneral: ≤10 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤5 points) and among centers within a country (Δgeneral: ≤9 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤6 points). Sum scores for general and radiotherapy-specific items were higher in countries with a high-income (p < 0.01) and higher health development index (p < 0.01). A larger annual number of irradiated pediatric patients was associated with higher sum scores for general items (p < 0.01). ConclusionThis survey demonstrates the disparities in organization of pediatric radiotherapy departments between SIOPE-affiliated countries and centers within the same country. Investment is needed to reduce inequalities in pediatric radiotherapy care.