Multidisciplinary Environment Research Articles

Utilizing a participatory curriculum development approach for multidisciplinary training on the forensic medical evaluation of asylum seekers

BackgroundClinicians play an important role in asylum applications through the forensic medical evaluation (FME). The lack of adequately trained and knowledgeable clinicians limits access to FME. Participatory curriculum development is a powerful tool that elevates voices of multiple stakeholders to generate innovation in FME education. The objective of this study was to conduct an interview-based curricular needs assessment of the core skills needed to perform safe and effective FME and the most effective teaching methods targeting multidisciplinary learners. MethodsIn accordance with a participatory curriculum development framework, we conducted semi-structured interviews of individuals in four key stakeholder groups that play an important role in FME: asylees, experienced educators, prospective learners, and attorneys. We used grounded theory, an inductive approach to the thematic coding of interview transcripts. ResultsInterview participants described the most important skills for performing FME and approaches to teaching these skills. Thematic saturation was reached at 13 interviews. Four major themes central to an FME curriculum were identified: (1) Core knowledge and technical skills to perform effective FME, (2) Practical skills in a trauma-informed approach to FME, (3) Mitigating secondary trauma and building resilience, and (4) Teaching approaches for multi-disciplinary learners. ConclusionWe conducted an interview-based study utilizing participatory curriculum development principles to investigate the most important skills to conduct safe and effective FME of asylum seekers. We found that experiential training that emphasizes the practice of skills in a multi-disciplinary environment is more aligned with stakeholder needs than existing frameworks built around one-way knowledge transfer.

How do academic smart city centres operate in complex environments? A business model perspective

In recent years, an increasing number of academic smart city centres have emerged globally. These centres play a crucial role in conducting cutting-edge research and proposing innovative solutions for cities; they often operate in a complex multi-purpose, multi-disciplinary, and multi-stakeholder environment, even as they struggle to secure enough resources for their core activities. Despite their important role in smart city projects and initiatives, we lack scientific understandings of how smart city centres generate and deliver value to city stakeholders. As a first step in addressing this gap, we studied seven smart city centres across Europe and North America through in-depth interviews. To complement those interviews, we conducted an online survey and collected responses from a larger sample of centres from several regions around the world. Consequently, we provide a fresh understanding of how these centres orchestrate their operations and capabilities to create and deliver value to smart city stakeholders. Inspired by recent research on business model innovation for non-profit organizations, we argue that academic centres can benefit from using business models to align their operations with their strategies to achieve their goals. Our study contributes to smart city and business model research while providing practical implications for smart city centres.

Introducing pre-training workshop sessions to enhance learning in multidisciplinary environments: a case study in computer-aided engineering and design

Introducing pre-training workshop sessions to enhance learning in multidisciplinary environments: a case study in computer-aided engineering and design

The Influence of Information Technologies on Modern Teaching Methods

The research focuses on analysing the transformation of traditional approaches to education in response to modern challenges and the needs of the global labour market. The study aims to determine the main trends and prospects for the use of information technologies in education and assess their impact on the formation of qualified personnel capable of functioning effectively in the digital economy. The study emphasises the importance of innovative teaching methods for preparing students to work in an intercultural and multidisciplinary environment. The study results testify to the importance of integrating information technologies in the educational process to improve the quality of education and the formation of professional competencies of the teaching staff. The main prospects for developing educational technologies are characterised, and recommendations are offered for optimising the use of digital tools in the educational process, taking into account the current trends in the development of global education and the challenges of the labour market.

Origami multi-layer space shield for cylindrical space structure

The multidisciplinary space environment, encompassing orbital debris, cosmic radiation, and solar radiative heat, poses significant risks to spacecraft and astronauts, necessitating efficient and effective shielding solutions. A multi-layer shield with wide spacing has been proven to be an effective way to shield the spacecraft from space debris impact; however, due to the limited volume of the payload fairing, it was not feasible to apply a multi-layer shield to the spacecraft fuselage. Through the origami design, the shield maintains a compact form during launch and subsequently expands in outer space to enhance protection. Through geometric analysis, it has been confirmed that the deployable multi-layer space shield can occupy less space than conventional space shield structures while expanding into wider shield intervals and multiple layers. Through hypervelocity impact experiments, it was confirmed that as the bumper spacing of the multi-layer space shield expands, its ballistic performance becomes superior to conventional space structures. The deployable multi-layer space shield can reduce not only hypervelocity impacts but also solar radiative heat using the same mechanism as multi-layer insulation. Through cosmic radiation dose analysis, it has been confirmed that the multi-layer space shield is effective in cosmic radiation shielding compared to conventional space structures.

Abstract IA013: Current state of the art: Bladder-preserving trimodality therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Abstract Many muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients are not getting curative treatment, there remains an undertreated/underserved population and a huge unmet need. Some are not good surgical candidates and others decline a radical cystectomy given concerns regarding its morbidity. Trimodality therapy (TMT), comprising of a maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by chemoradiation (with salvage cystectomy reserved for those that incur a muscle-invasive recurrence), has emerged as a viable bladder-preserving alternative to radical cystectomy for selected patients. In clinically-matched cohorts, survival is comparable to radical cystectomy in the modern era. More than 85% of contemporary patients keep their own native bladder and long-term quality of life after bladder preservation is good. Salvage cystectomy is feasible and can be curative for those with MIBC recurrences. TMT is now supported by numerous clinical guidelines, including NCCN (category 1 recommendation for stage II and IIIA). There are opportunities to continue to optimize clinical staging of disease (e.g. MRI), delivery of RT (e.g. image guidance, adaptive delivery, dose escalation, hypofractionation, field design) and systemic therapies (e.g. concurrent, neoadjuvant and adjuvant, including possibly immunotherapy) to improve outcomes. Ongoing trials (such as SWOG/NRG 1806 which recently closed to accrual) will inform the addition of immunotherapy to TMT. Validation of biomarkers in independent cohorts and in prospective trials is necessary to further guide bladder preservation therapy for MIBC and for personalized treatment selection. Ultimately, MIBC patients should be seen in a multidisciplinary environment where informed decision making by the patient is key. Citation Format: Jason A. Efstathiou. Current state of the art: Bladder-preserving trimodality therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Bladder Cancer: Transforming the Field; 2024 May 17-20; Charlotte, NC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(10_Suppl):Abstract nr IA013.

Vocal Pedagogues Training Dysphonic Voices: Treatment Seeking Approaches and Practices

ObjectiveThis study examined the practices of current professional voice teachers' management of voice disorders. Type of StudySurvey. MethodsAn online survey was developed and made available to vocal educators who had membership in organizations within the field of voice. Respondents rated their comfort with management of voice disorders, criteria for accepting a dysphonic student, and their approach within the multi-disciplinary environment. ResultsOf 786 responses from professional vocal educators, 48% had worked with a vocalist recovering from dysphonia, vocal surgery, or a vocal pathology. Two thirds reported management of nodules, polyps, or cysts. The majority of respondents working with injured voices had advanced degrees in vocal performance, but few had cross training as an SLP. Pedagogues focused on breathing strategies while SLP pedagogues focused on resonance and reduction of phonotrauma. Pedagogues sought information on voice science and medicine from scholarly journals, attending conferences, and medical professionals. ConclusionsVocal pedagogues were interested members of the interdisciplinary team with a desire to seek knowledge beyond their initial career training, even though additional continuing education or licensure is not mandated for vocal educators. Findings show a need for vocal degree programs to include anatomy and physiology and multidisciplinary management of voice disorders.

Influence of structural elasticity on the aerodynamic characteristics of the common research model with deflected control surfaces

Numerical aerodynamic and aeroelastic investigations are conducted for the Common Research Model (CRM) configuration with deployable aileron control surfaces and a trimmable horizontal stabilizer at cruise and off-cruise conditions. The numerical methodology which is implemented in the multi-disciplinary simulation environment SimServer is based on CFD and coupled CFD-CSM simulations. The DLR Tau Code is applied in order to solve the Reynolds-Averaged-Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model with Edwards modification is used for the closure modeling of the three-dimensional RANS equations. A linear modal solver is utilized to calculate structural displacements and rotations of control surfaces are modeled by a Chimera approach. A grid independence study is conducted by using the rigid aerodynamic model of the CRM. The main focus of the analysis lies on the evaluation of the stationary CFD-CSM simulations addressing the influence of structural deformation on aileron effectiveness. Influences of various flow conditions and different fuel tank filling levels on the resulting local and global aerodynamic properties of the CRM are investigated. The reduction of aileron effectiveness as well as the difference in horizontal trim deflection angle if structural elastic effects are considered is investigated for the considered Mach number range and aircraft mass configurations.

How Do Operating Room Nurse Students Experience the Learning Environment in the Operating Room?

Please note this article was first published in Norwegian. You can read the Norwegian article here. Background: There is little research-based knowledge about how operating room nursing students experience the learning environment in an operating room. Results from international studies indicate that structural challenges such as time pressure, high demands for efficiency, and a minimum of time delegated to guidance are all characteristic of the learning environment. More insight into how operating room nursing students experience an operating room is an important element for improving the quality of practice studies in a high-tech and time-efficient environment. Aim: The purpose of the study is to describe operating room nursing students’ experiences of their learning environment in operating rooms. Method: The study has a qualitative and descriptive research design, utilizing systematic text condensation as an analytical method. Data was gathered through conducting focus-group interviews with operating room nursing students in their final semester of the nursing education study program. Results: Three main categories were brought up repeatedly by these students: 1) The significance of having supervisors, 2) The unclear responsibility with respect to formal and informal guidance in a multidisciplinary learning environment, and 3) The situation of learning in a complex and unpredictable learning environment. Conclusion: The results provide further insight into operating room nursing students’ experiences of their learning environment in authentic practice studies. The results can be utilized in further improving the learning environment for operating room nursing students.

Development of pilot plants for engineering education

The rapid changes in social interactions and the easy access to information brought by technological advances require that professors rethink and rebuild teaching to maintain its quality. Active methodologies have been used to ensure the development of essential skills in professionals to deal with the current challenges and demands of the job market. This study presents the use of active project-based methodologies with undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. This study aims to report on the implementation of a pilot plant for the causticizing stage of the pulp and paper Kraft Process and the development of two prototypes of industrial sludge drying equipment using solar energy and to evaluate the impact of the activities on the professional training of the people involved and the development of skills and competencies expected of engineering professionals according to the National Curriculum Guidelines, such as the ability to work in teams. The students could apply their technical knowledge in real situations in an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary collaborative environment that encourages the resolution of complex engineering problems innovatively, with a holistic and humanistic vision that also considers social and sustainable aspects. They also demonstrated increased motivation and experienced the connection between industry and academia, which is essential to demonstrate the applicability of the techniques learned during the courses.

AN EVALUATION OF PERSONALIZED LEARNING BY ONLINE INFORMAL EDUCATION IN CASE OF DESIGN EDUCATION

The advent of digital technology has enabled the development of alternative learning methods that enable personalized education to meet the demands of the modern era. Regardless of geographical location and time, online education facilitates the provision of personalized learning opportunities through asynchronous or synchronous recording. Thanks to Covid-19, the rapid adaptation of formal education to digital environments promoted individualization and self-directed learning. The increasing use of design software in architectural education due to digitalization promotes integrating synchronous or asynchronous extracurricular training into the individual learning process. By exploring the diversity of informal online education programs in design software, this study aims to identify the contributions and limitations of informal learning in personalization. Examining the context of a five-day online workshop and a 21-day course can provide new perspectives through a multidisciplinary environment of discussion and practice, even in a short period of time. These programs provide education and training for skilled designers who have their own unique perspectives and techniques on design. Participants' economic situation regarding course fees introduces a competitive medium, which restricts learning accessibility in any scenarioMoreover, excluding these educational programs from transcripts due to imprecise evaluation conditions results in unfairness. With equal access and fair and accurate evaluation mechanisms, informal online education can help professionals develop unique, global, and harmonious perspectives.

Risky Business: Data-At-Risk in a Dynamic and Evolving Multidisciplinary Research Environment

At-risk data is an unfortunate research reality and can be present in all data formats in a range of research disciplines. This is defined as data that are at risk of loss due to various factors, including deterioration of the media, lack of accompanying documentation and data that exists in non-digital formats, which are often irreplaceable. Continued access to older data has a range of benefits. The factors that place valuable data at risk are therefore a cause for concern. This paper reports on a multi-method case study, comprising a survey and interviews. A web-based questionnaire was distributed to all research group leaders based at a leading South African research institute. This was followed by one-on-one interviews that were held with a sub-section of the same group of researchers. The combined findings of the two methods enabled a picture to be formed regarding factors that jeopardise research data, data rescue obstacles that the researchers encountered and the state of data rescue at the institute. Several recommendations and strategies are put forward to address identified risk factors and challenges. Suggestions include the launch of a data rescue project, awareness training around data at risk, involving the institute’s library and information services (LIS) section in data rescue and launching continued efforts to acquire a dedicated institutional data repository. It is also important to ensure that the scope of project risk management includes data considerations. The combined implementation of recommendations is anticipated to ensure the accessibility and usability of older at-risk data and reduce the chances of current and future data becoming compromised.

Ten questions on tools and methods for positive energy districts

Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) are emerging as a new symbol for sustainable urbanism and energy transition in the built environment. The pursuit of PED development is increasingly rooted in several EU policies and initiatives, sparking discourse on the interplay between governance, technological and non-technological solutions, multiple stakeholders, and the dynamics of urban and climatic contexts. As their name suggests, PEDs are characterized by surplus renewable energy generation; however, recent developments in urban environmental science emphasize the critical need for an integrated approach to achieve the key performance indicators of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consequently, PED designs must dynamically integrate several stakeholders. These complexities intersect with urban challenges such as urban heat islands, microclimates, nature-based solutions integration, future climatic conditions, resource availability, social vibrancy, connectivity, walkability, economic activity, and more. Current tools are fragmented, severely limiting their ability to support such a multifaceted design process. This paper describes a holistic framework for tools and methods for PED design through a set of relevant questions. Drawing upon the expertise of nine researchers with complementary practical and scientific experience in various aspects of district-scale environmental performance analysis, we offer a comprehensive overview of the scopes, methods, metrics, and toolchains for PEDs, along with available tools to integrate them into different phases of the design process. This paper highlights both the challenges and opportunities ahead, emphasizing the cutting-edge methods and tools necessary to achieve robust, resilient, and data-driven processes for PED designs in a dynamic, multi-scale, and multi-disciplinary urban environment.

Multidisciplinary Team Care in Pituitary Tumours.

The optimal care for patients with pituitary tumours is best provided in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment, which requires the contribution of multiple medical specialties working together. The benefits and advantages of the pituitary multidisciplinary team (MDT) are broad, and all relevant international consensus and guidelines in the field recommend that patients with pituitary tumours should always be managed in a MDT. Endocrinologists and neurosurgeons are normally the leading specialties within the pituitary MDT, supported by many other specialties with significant contributions to the diagnosis and management of pituitary tumours, including neuropathology, neuroradiology, neuro-ophthalmology, and otorhinolaryngology, among others. Here, we review the literature concerning the concepts of Pituitary MDT/Pituitary Tumour Centre of Excellence (PTCOE) in terms of their mission, goals, benefits, structure, proposed models of function, and barriers, and we also provide the views of different specialists involved in our Pituitary MDT.

Education & Practice in Open Design. Improving the Learning Experience Through Knowledge Connections

Learning complex disciplines traditionally requires the adoption of equally articulated methods and strategies. Design does not escape this principle, on the contrary it enhances some of its peculiar characteristics: very different skills, often not aligned development and application times, tools complexity, declare an environment where methods and practice had always defined a non-linear educational scenario (Cennamo et al., 2011). The paper discusses the matter while bringing a case study specifically defined with the purpose to test a new educational scenario where a student is put into conditions to experiment the entire Design process by himself, being connected with different competences inside a complex multidisciplinary environment, in order to develop a physical Design solution for a user with disabilities.

Best supportive care in advanced pancreas cancer: a systematic review to define a patient-care bundle.

The majority of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have advanced disease at presentation, preventing treatment with curative intent. Management of these patients is often provided by surgical teams for whom there are a lack of widely accepted strategies for care. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to identify key issues in patients with advanced PDAC and integrate the evidence to form a care bundle checklist for use in surgical clinics. A systematic review of the literature was performed regarding best supportive care for advanced PDAC according to the PRISMA guidelines. Interventions pertaining to supportive care were included whilst preventative and curative treatments were excluded. A narrative review was planned. Forty-four studies were assessed and four themes were developed: (i) Pain is an undertreated symptom, requiring escalating analgesics and sometimes invasive modalities. (ii) Health-related quality of life necessitates optimisation by involving family, carers and multi-disciplinary teams. (iii) Malnutrition and weight loss can be mitigated with early assessment, replacement therapies and resistance exercise. (iv) Biliary and duodenal obstruction can often be relieved by endoscopic/radiological interventions with surgery rarely required. This is the first systematic review to evaluate the different types of interventions utilized during best supportive care in patients with advanced PDAC. It provides a comprehensive care bundle for surgeons that informs management of the common issues experienced by patients within a multidisciplinary environment.

Learning by Stealth: Newly Qualified Social Workers’ Experiences of Navigating Health and Hospital Social Work

Abstract Hospitals are known to be fast paced, multidisciplinary environments, which can be experienced as both challenging and fulfilling workplaces by social workers. Newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) are still learning how to be social work professionals through their engagement in and delivery of practice. Drawing on a larger pilot study conducted in Brisbane, Queensland, this article reports findings from a cohort of NQSW hospital social workers’ conceptualisation and responses to complexity. Findings indicate that within a hospital context, NQSWs learn how to be professional social workers through stealth due to the broader organisational factors surrounding their role. Whilst these organisational factors present challenges, participants enacted several adaptive strategies to manage their work. Yet, these strategies are not without their limitations. Implications are raised in terms of the need for more purposeful support and socialisation of NQSWs within hospital contexts.

Transformation in the Teachers’ Role According to the National Education Policy 2020 Guidelines in the Indian Context

Higher education plays a significant role in promoting human and societal well-being and developing India as envisioned in its constitution. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 discusses how to equip future teachers with transforming the teaching–learning process and innovative pedagogy. A teacher is the central figure in the formal teaching–learning process, and students’ future depends on them. The aim of this paper is to provide strategic recommendation for transforming the faculty/teachers of higher education institutes according to the guidelines of NEP 2020 supported with the literature. The critical points for teacher transformation considered are multidisciplinarity, student engagement, leadership, lifelong learning, technology, and faculty as a curriculum designer scientist. Using the keywords “NEP 2020, teacher, transformation, curriculum, and higher education,” literature was searched in scientific databases. Relevant literature information related to the key teacher-related sections in NEP 2020 was compiled, grouped, and discussed accordingly. The proposed strategic recommendations are as follows: NEP 2020 is a roadmap for the future; the teachers should train students in multi-disciplinary environment; Student-centric education and supporting self-directed learning should be promoted; teacher to transform as mentor or guide; faculty to be trained in leadership skills; blend learning and life long learning to be promoted; faculty to be trained in digital technology and to take a new role as curriculum designer scientist.

Promoting Multidisciplinary Digital Learning: A Design-Based Approach to Creating Teacher and Student Support Materials

Digital learning environments are used frequently in K-12 classrooms. Such use can require skillful orchestration as teachers need to understand the affordances of the learning environment, sequence of activities, and when and how to intervene with students. Using a digital learning environment in a multidisciplinary classroom context makes the design of support materials for teachers and students even more essential. To design for effective teacher orchestration in the classroom, we created a comprehensive set of materials for our multidisciplinary digital learning environment. We employ the design-based intervention research framework to trace the contextual and practical iterations these materials underwent. Additionally, we provide next steps for our work and considerations for the broader community.

Directing classical geotechnical engineering to future challenges

Geotechnical engineers have traditionally been focused on soil mechanics, rock mechanics and engineering geology. Thus it has been sufficient to master these topics to be recognized as a key participant in building and civil engineering projects. However, gradually concerns within both projects themselves and societies more generally are shifting towards new questions and challenges. Therefore, ensuring that geotechnical engineers remain central to all relevant projects, there is a need to master increasingly different and new ways of working together, obtaining new skills and increasing professionally pertinent knowledge and experience. This paper will give an overview of the issues geotechnical engineers have to address and master, if they are to take a lead in projects that seek to meet future challenges. This is really about working in a multi-disciplinary environment, using relevant technical methods without losing specifically engineering judgement, and then using open-minded communication skills to question previous practices that can proceed to find solutions to those future challenges identified. How is this to be done successfully within the profession? This paper offers some ideas. All professionals, and geotechnical engineers cannot be an exception, want to influence and contribute to solving current and future challenges, and thus we need to expand our knowledge awareness. The list of topics where we need to develop our knowledge is rather lengthy and include environmental considerations, contracts, law, conceptualisations of sustainability, robustness, monitoring, digitalisation, standardisation, and climate change. This paper will highlight two examples where geotechnical engineers with increased knowledge sensitivity and skills could make a significant contribution. First, there is an example from Göteborg about limiting a project impact within its zone of influence. Designing the geotechnical structure itself is only the first step, for in addition there is a need to control the building process, have sufficient monitoring, handling the expectations of society while ensuring recognition and use of a particular professional scope of operation. The other example concerns the re-use of material in our embankments to limit transportation. Which criteria should be used to determine the suitability of materials for re-use? How can we cope with societal reactions? Finally, the paper will discuss how geotechnical engineers, by combining geotechnical knowledge with new skills, can contribute with a sustainability foundation involving both relevant concepts and principles looking forward.