Skill Areas Research Articles

Emerging Trends in AI-Driven Health Tech: A Comprehensive Review and Future Prospects

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, specifically within the realm of health informatics (HI). The study aims to understand the impact of AI on patient treatment, research, and operational processes within healthcare systems. Additionally, it seeks to address the challenges posed by the increasing volume of unorganized and unstructured data generated by AI technologies in healthcare.
 Materials and Methods: This research employs a comprehensive analysis approach, utilizing complex health information systems, clinical images, and intricate language. It examines the current utilization of AI in healthcare, focusing on its effects on patient and clinician involvement in healthcare decision-making. The assessment emphasizes key skill areas of Health Informatics, including IT, health information systems, security and privacy, telemedicine, m-Health, consumer health informatics, and clinical informatics.
 Findings: The study identifies several significant findings regarding the role of AI in healthcare. It highlights how AI technologies contribute to the generation of unstructured data, posing challenges for research and analysis. Additionally, the research underscores AI's ability to enhance personalized medical guidance, identify complex illnesses, forecast negative health occurrences, and improve patient outcomes. Moreover, it discusses AI's impact on social media and mobile apps, emphasizing its potential to gather valuable insights from online sources for a deeper understanding of patient needs and behaviors.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Based on the findings, the research suggests several recommendations for future research and progress in the field of AI usage in healthcare. These recommendations may include further exploration of AI applications in healthcare decision-making, addressing challenges related to unstructured data, enhancing security and privacy measures, and leveraging AI for improving patient outcomes and clinician engagement. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and development to maximize the potential benefits of AI in healthcare.

Evolution of Social Competencies in Sustainable Supply Chains

In many sectors of the economy, the global changes brought about by COVID-19, the war in Ukraine and the ensuing economic crisis have challenged the hitherto used social competencies necessary to successfully manage companies in sustainable supply chains. The slogan of sustainability has now become a household word in the global economy. At the same time, the EU is moving from a 4.0 to a 5.0 economy, with increasing attention being paid to the soft competencies of future managers. This article aims to present the patterns of competencies in supply chains and to identify the relevance of specific social competencies for doing business in the face of the above challenges. The survey was conducted among selected experts from the healthcare industry, who were asked to identify the importance of social competencies. This choice was primarily motivated by certain characteristics of the industry. This work aims to determine which social competencies seem to be essential for future managers in sustainable supply chains and the transformation towards a 5.0 economy. The answer to this question is crucial for research and teaching centers aiming to educate future managers at the highest level of specific social competencies and skills in a business environment. Given the dynamic development of specific industries, it is reasonable to identify the needs in the areas of social skills.

Exploring the Impact of Infrastructure on Indoor and Outdoor Game Participation and Skill Development in the Present Scenario of National Education Policy 2020

Physical Education programs are anchored by their infrastructure, which has a significant impact on students' involvement, engagement, and skill development in both indoor and outdoor game activities. Well-designed spaces, furnishings, and equipment have a big impact on how effective Physical Education situations are. Understanding how infrastructure affects participation in both indoor and outdoor games and skill development is essential to optimizing physical education programs and promoting holistic student development. In order to better understand how infrastructure affects student experiences and outcomes in Physical Education, this review study highlights how it promotes active involvement, enhances skill development, and creates fair learning environments and provides educators, policymakers, and stakeholders with insights by synthesizing the existing literature. It looks at the importance of infrastructure, how it affects player engagement and skill development, inclusion issues, and areas for development. In order to encourage student involvement, skill development, and inclusivity in Physical Education, infrastructure is essential. An extensive variety of physical activities are made possible by well planned areas and equipment, which enhances children's motor abilities, coordination, and teamwork. There is need for development in terms of community involvement, technology integration, and infrastructure investment. In order to encourage student involvement, skill development, and inclusivity In Physical Education, infrastructure is essential. An extensive variety of physical activities are made possible by well planned areas and equipment, which enhances children' motor abilities, coordination. By resolving these issues and seizing opportunities, Physical Education programs can become more inclusive and effective. In addition to highlighting the significance of continued investment and support for infrastructure, this assessment highlights the critical role that infrastructure plays in fostering student involvement and holistic development. Keywords: Infrastructure, physical education, indoor games, outdoor games, participation, skill development.

A Three-Arm Delphi Process for Exploring Australian Radiography Stakeholder Prioritisation of Graduate Skill Development and their Perception of How Often These Skills are Demonstrated by Graduate Radiographers

Introduction: Clinical skills education requires commitment from academic staff, clinical supervisors, and the students themselves to ensure the attainment of specific learning goals. The aims of this study were to identify specific skill areas that radiography education stakeholders feel are important to develop in Australian radiography students, and to evaluate how frequently the stakeholders believe graduate radiographers demonstrate these skills. Methods: A three-arm Delphi process of consensus development was used to survey radiography academic educators, radiographers, and radiography students as three separate expert groups. Three to four rounds covered the nomination of professional skills important to participants, the rating and ranking of importance of these skills, and identification of how well the stakeholder groups feel graduate radiographers demonstrate these skills. Results: Twenty-four stakeholders participated in the study. Thirty-four professional capabilities were identified as being important by at least one stakeholder group. Six capabilities were rated as being very or extremely important by all groups with no large differences of ratings identified between groups for the remaining capabilities. The student group felt that graduate radiographers demonstrate identified clinical skills more frequently than was perceived by the other groups. Conclusion: The agreement between radiographer education stakeholder groups as to the importance of identified professional capabilities indicates that each group is likely to place similar emphases on the teaching and learning of these skills. Differences of opinion between students and educators around student/graduate performance levels can inform areas for improvement in student performance and educator feedback approaches.

Seasonal distribution patterns and conservation gaps of blue sharks in the Indo‐Western Pacific Ocean

AbstractAimOceanic sharks play an important role in maintaining the stability and biodiversity of marine ecosystems, and yet they are among the most threatened taxa worldwide. Currently, large spatial‐scale distribution patterns and conservation gaps are poorly known for most species since they are challenging to study. To address the problem, we here use an integrated approach with an illustration with the blue shark (Prionace glauca), a common bycatch oceanic species.LocationIndo‐Western Pacific Ocean (IWPO).MethodsWe first collated decades of species occurrences and marine environmental datasets from open‐access sources. We then applied ensembled species distribution models (SDMs) to predict its seasonal distributions and evaluated the model performance using true skill statistic (TSS) and area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve (AUC). We finally conducted spatial analyses (e.g. bivariate hotspot analyses) to identify conservation gaps/opportunities based on the predicted distribution maps and two additional datasets, namely, marine protected areas (MPAs) and fishing effort.Results(1) Both seasonal SDMs performed well (mean TSS > 0.8, AUC > 0.95), and the results suggested that blue sharks were widely distributed in the IWPO with some seasonal differences in ecological niches and distributions (mainly in the West Indian Ocean and the Northwest Pacific Ocean); (2) large MPAs and shark sanctuaries covered comparable, small portions (4%–9%) of blue shark habitats, but these locations (in MPAs and sanctuaries) varied between seasons; (3) fishery‐shark conflict hotspots also varied between seasons with some located in or close to large MPAs and sanctuaries.Main conclusionsWe provide seasonal (cold vs. warm) distribution maps of blue sharks across the IWPO to advance their conservation and management. We highlight the importance of strengthening management both in and near large MPAs and shark sanctuaries. Our study contributes a feasible integrated approach to reveal seasonal distribution patterns and conservation opportunities for oceanic sharks.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS AND CAREER COMPETENCIES AS PREDICTORS OF WORK ENGAGEMENT AMONG TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TEACHERS

<p>This study explores the relationship between employability skills, career competencies, and work engagement among Technical Vocational teachers. A descriptive-correlational study using a structured survey method of data collection involved 182 Technical Vocational teachers. Data analysis revealed very high levels of communication skills, personal and professional advancement, adaptability, and other key areas of employability skills. Career competencies, including computer and language skills, and work ethics, also scored very high. Work engagement indicators such as vigor, dedication, and absorption were notably very high. The correlation analysis highlighted significant relationships between specific employability skills and work engagement, with communication skills showing a strong association. Similarly, career competencies like knowledge and skills were significantly correlated with work engagement. Multiple regression analysis indicated that knowledge and skills, teamwork and leadership, and communication skills significantly predict work engagement. The study provides insights into how specific skills and competencies contribute to higher levels of work engagement, emphasizing the importance of these areas in professional development. </p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0758/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Management of The Head of Madrasah Aliyah in Entrepreneurship Development

Entrepreneurship in madrasah educational institutions is a necessity that must be carried out to support quality improvement with independent financing. This research has two main objectives: firstly, how the school principal manages to develop entrepreneurship in his institution, and secondly, how the Madrasah principal organizes the organization and implementation of entrepreneurship. This type of research is quantitative, where the data is obtained through informants. The location of this research is two madrasas in Tulang Bawang Regency. The informants for this research came from both madrasahs, namely the head of the madrasah, the deputy head of the madrasah, the head of administration, and the community around the madrasah. Furthermore, the data used is primary data obtained directly from informants through interviews. Test the validity of the data using data triangulation techniques. Meanwhile, data analysis techniques include the degree of trust, transferability, dependability, and confirmability tests. The findings of this research show that the suitable abilities and knowledge of madrasah heads in entrepreneurship influence planning for future educational development. This is demonstrated in the creation of academic curricula. In MAN 1 and MAN 2 Tulang Bawang, all subjects must include entrepreneurship. Apart from that, the placement that will be responsible must be based on the area of skill.

Current Procedural Practices of Family Medicine Teaching Physicians.

Proficiency in procedural care achieved during residency is a major driver of family physician scope of practice. To date, no inventory exists of the advanced procedures and clinical skills performed by teaching family physicians. This study comprises the first such survey and assesses the attitude of respondents toward the importance of family physicians performing procedures. We sent a clinical skills inventory to a convenience sample of teaching family physicians employed at 18 medical school-affiliated, community, and military residency programs across the United States. The overall response rate was 46% (N=337). Respondents performed a median of 12 advanced procedures and clinical skills (IQR: 8-18). Endorsed procedures ranged from skin biopsy (n=316, 93.8%) and joint injection (n=279, 82.8%) to colonoscopy (n=21, 6.2%) and cesarean delivery (n=23, 6.8%), and reported skills ranged from medication-assisted treatment (n=181, 53.7%) to highly active antiretrovial therapy (n=35, 10.4%). Gender and career stage were associated with statistically significant differences in endorsement of specific procedures. For example, fracture management was more likely to be performed by late- versus early-career faculty (54.1% vs 24.2%, P<.001) and by male versus female respondents (54.9% vs 24.2%, P<.001). Most respondents (84.3%) agreed that future family physicians should learn procedures and advanced clinical skills. Family medicine teaching faculty perform a wide array of procedures and advanced skills. Apparent differences by career stage and gender identity in the performance of some of the procedural and skill areas may portend a shift in the procedural training of future family physicians.

Genetic Insights: Examining CNTNAP2 rs7794745 Gene Polymorphism and Its Impact on ABLLS Assessment in Middle Euphrates Children in Iraq with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective: examine the effect of CNTNAP2 gene polymorphism on behavioral therapy response in Iraqi children with autism spectrum disorder using ABLLS-r.
 Methods: In this study, 150 samples for autism spectrum disorder were obtained from AL-SIBTEIN ACADEMY, however owing to many challenges, the final number of samples was 50 patients. Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction refers to a technique that combines the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction enzymes to amplify and analyze certain DNA sequences. Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to genotype the CNTNAP2 gene at rs7794745. All 25 ABLLS-R repertoires and all four primary components had their dependent parameters determined by aggregating and converting the ABLLS data to a percentage. This provided us with the proportion of finished assignments from each repertoire.
 Results: After correlating the genotype data (AA/AT/TT) with the behavioral therapy response as indicated by ABLLS-R, we only discovered a statistically significant difference between the frequency of AA/TT genotypes in the rs7794745 variant in patients and the social interaction domain. Conversely, the remaining 24 subdomains exhibited no discernible correlation.
 Conclusion: This research topic could provide significant information on targeting and categorizing which skill areas need to be developed based on genetic models' influence.

“Doing well”: Intraoperative entrustable professional activity assessments provided limited technical feedback

BackgroundEntrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) allow for the assessment of specific, observable, essential tasks in medical education. Since being developed in non-surgical fields, EPA assessments have been implemented in surgery to explore intraoperative entrustment. However, assessment burden is a significant problem for faculty, and it is unknown whether EPA assessments enable formative technical feedback. EPAs' formative utility could inform how surgical programs facilitate technical feedback for trainees. We aimed to assess the extent to which narrative comments provided through the Fellowship Council (FC) EPA assessments contained technical feedback. MethodsThe FC previously collected EPA assessments for subspecialty surgical fellows from September 2020 to October 2022. Two raters reviewed assessments' narrative comments for inclusion of each skill area that makes up part of the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS). A third rater reconciled discrepant ratings. ResultsDuring the study period, there were 3302 completed EPA assessments, including 1191 fellow self-assessments, 1124 faculty assessments, and 987 assessments without an identified assessor role. We found that assessments' narrative comments related to a median of two of the seven OSATS areas (IQR:1–2). There were no comments relevant to any of the seven OSATS areas in 16.0 % of all assessments. ConclusionsIn this review of narrative comments for EPA assessments from the FC, we found that limited technical feedback of the kind included in the OSATS was provided in many assessments. These results suggest benefit to adjusting the EPA form, enhancing faculty development, or continuing additional types of targeted technical assessment intraoperatively. Key messageThis analysis of narrative comments from fellowship EPA assessments showed that many assessments included limited technical feedback. To allow for continued technical feedback for fellows, these results highlight the need for further refinements of the EPA assessment form, additional faculty development, or ongoing use of other types of technical assessment.

Developing a Project-Based Learning Course Model Combined with the Think–Pair–Share Strategy to Enhance Creative Thinking Skills in Education Students

The aim of this research was to produce a project-based learning (PjBL) course model that combines with the Think–Pair–Share (TPS) strategy and to determine its effectiveness in improving the creative thinking skills of education students. The sample of participants comprised 100 students from a university in Bangkok, Thailand. Five main elements comprised the PjBL-TPS course: 1. Project Preparation (including an introduction, pairs formation, and an understanding of the project); 2. Project Pair Cooperation (including discussion, knowledge framework development in pairs, practice analysis, brainstorming, and pair feedback); 3. Project Production (including its development, testing, refinement, and presentation); 4. Project Evaluation (including giving feedback on the work of the other pairs); and 5. Project Conclusion (including reflecting on the overall experience of the project). The results show that, in their post-course exercises, the students displayed enhanced creativity in all areas of creative skills (involving fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration). The experimental group demonstrated significantly higher creativity levels compared to the control group. In addition, the post-course assessments of the self-perceived creativity improvements of the students revealed that, post-course, most of the students perceived improvements in every aspect of their creativity.

Analisis Sistem Penilaian Kinerja Karyawan dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Sumber Daya Manusia pada Bengkel Pusat PTPN II

This research aims to analyze the employee performance evaluation system used at the PTPN II central workshop. This research includes data collection through interviews with managers and employees as well as analysis of relevant documents. The research results show that the current PTPN II Workshop employee performance appraisal system has several weaknesses, namely the lack of quality of employee performance appraisal in the areas of skills, personal, soft skills and hard skills. The evaluation process is not always objective, the assessment criteria are unclear and the comments provided are not systematic. Additionally, there is a need to improve employee training and development based on their performance appraisal. Recommendations include establishing clearer evaluation criteria, training managers to provide effective feedback, and improving the employee development system to determine the objectives of research on employee performance and quality in the areas of personal skills, soft skills and hard skills. It is hoped that this will help improve the quality of employee performance assessments and their contribution to the success of the PTPN II focus workshop. This study provides useful information for other organizations seeking to improve their employee performance appraisal systems and also provides guidance for improving overall human resource management.

PRELIMINARY MODEL OF POTENTIAL AREAS FOR RESTORATION FOR THE INTER-ANDEAN VALLEY OF CAUCA RIVER (COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA) BASED ON HABITAT SUITABILITY MODELS

Tropical dry forests (TDF) are highly susceptible to land degradation. The inter-Andean Valley of the Cauca River (IVCR) has the most fragmented Colombian dry forests, and their restoration is essential. Here, potential areas for restoration were identified using a habitat suitability modeling (HSM) approach. TDF vascular plants and bioclimatic predictors were used. Species were selected based on threatened status, endemism, and priority level for conservation. Two sets of predictors were chosen using Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Then, with a maximum entropy algorithm, PCA and VIF models were projected for the selected species. These models were evaluated via true skill statistics (TSS) and area under the curve (AUC) statistical metrics. Models with good performance (TSS, AUC, standard deviation, variance) were ensembled, and a preliminary model where areas with suitable bioclimatic conditions for the selected species were generated. Results show that nearly 45 % of the IVCR has suitable conditions for the selected species. Although potential conflicts may arise in areas under permanent or semipermanent crops which represent more than 80 % of the IVCR, cropland mosaics, and natural and seminatural land covers might provide alternative solutions to reduce the land-use conflict. The potential areas for restoration identified in this study may provide a comprehensive framework for environmental impact and regional risk assessments related to the current land use and land cover change dynamics. Also, they may provide relevant information for designing landscape restoration programs as an adaptive strategy toward climate change.

A Phenomenological Exploration on Three Skill Area for Employment: Industry Practitioners’ Insights

Career readiness among graduates has become an intense focus for higher learning institutions. With the increasing reliance on technology, digital literacy cannot be the only skill that matters in the workplace. Employers and industry leaders became more vocal in highlighting the inability of graduates to confront the skill mismatch and imbalance between the university and fundamental work skills. Along with declining labour markets and the devaluation of degree qualifications as among the impacts of the COVID-19 slump and digitalization, universities are pressured to enhance their graduates’ employability. The study aims to explore the debatable work skills through the lived experiences of industry practitioners. The exploration provides a possible framework for work-demand-driven education. A descriptive phenomenological research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the practical skills at work as demanded by the practitioners. A two-tiered method of interviews was employed to establish the context, relay specific details of the participants’ experiences, and contemplate the meaning of their experiences. Results show that a mainstream discourse describes human skills (communication), technical skills, and conceptual skills that help employees thrive in their careers in the brittle, anxious, nonlinear, and incomprehensible (BANI-world) new age of work. Finally, a suggested framework to promote future work skills-related learning is provided for higher staff and learners of higher education.

PERFORMANCE IN ON-THE-JOB TRAINING (OJT) OF COMPUTER ENGINEERING STUDENTS FROM HOST TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS (HTES), SUMMER 2022

In higher education institutions, industrial internships or on-the-job training are an important component of the academic curriculum. Participating in internships allows students to apply classroom knowledge and skills in professional settings, increasing their employability through practical experience. The study sought to ascertain BSCpE students\\\' performance in OJT in terms of personal attitudes, work-related skills, and human relations skills. Incorporating evidence from reviews, the research methodology, and the data gathered from 76 BSCpE students who engaged in on-the-job training during the summer of 2022, this study prove that students\\\' performance in personal attitudes received an exceptional rating, while in the areas of work-related and interpersonal skills, the students received a very good rating. Personal attitudes, work-related skills, and human-relations skills have no relationship with student performance in OJT. Having an excellent rating in personal attitudes does not guarantee having the same rating in work-related and human-relations skills as perceived by supervisors.

Clinical practice applicability and relevance to non-specialists of a paediatric EEG online learning tool

BackgroundPaediatric electroencephalography (EEG) training is inadequate amongst healthcare practitioners and technicians managing children with epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa. An entry level handbook was developed for healthcare practitioners in sub-Saharan Africa and subsequently made globally accessible via the International Child Neurology Teaching Network.AimTo investigate the usefulness of a paediatric online EEG handbook.MethodA survey of the ICNApedia online EEG handbook was circulated (December 2021–June 2022), to all 108 handbook registered participants (39 countries) via the research electronic data capture (REDCap) from the University of Cape Town (UCT).ResultsFifty participants from 25 countries responded: 8 from high income, 16 upper-middle income, 21 lower-middle income and 5 from low-income. 32 (64%) fully and 18 (36%) partially completed the survey. 35/50 (70%) had completed the handbook and seven respondents had partially completed the handbook. Responses supported the handbook as a good entry point to learn EEGs, especially for paediatrics. Likert scale ratings supported the handbook as relevant for gaining/enhancing knowledge and improving diagnosis and management of patients with confidence. The handbook was considered user friendly, comprehensible, and provided a practical experience. For improving EEG reading skills the handbook helped skills development via reinforcement and good illustrations. 29/32 (90%) of respondents confirmed that they are using learnt skills from the handbook in their current work.ConclusionIn resource limited settings non-specialist clinicians often provide extended services including EEG interpretation. The survey supports that the handbook is supporting this niche skills area, especially for the accessibility of knowledge gained. The handbook will continue to be adapted in-line with survey feedback.

European military surgical teams in combat theater: A survey study on deployment preparation and experience

IntroductionAdequate (predeployment) training of the nowadays highly specialized Western military surgical teams is vital to ensure a broad range of surgical skills to treat combat casualties. This survey study aimed to assess the self-perceived preparedness, training needs, deployment experience, and post-deployment impact of surgical teams deployed with the Danish, Dutch, or Finnish Armed Forces. Study findings may facilitate a customized predeployment training. MethodsA questionnaire was distributed among Danish, Dutch, and Finnish military surgical teams deployed between January 2013 and December 2020 (N = 142). The primary endpoint of self-perceived preparedness ratings, and data on the training needs, deployment experiences, and post-deployment impacts were compared between professions and nations. ResultsThe respondents comprised 35 surgeons, 25 anesthesiologists, and 39 supporting staff members, with a response rate of 69.7 % (99/142). Self-perceived deployment preparedness was rated with a median of 4.0 (IQR 4.0–4.0; scale: 1 [very unprepared]–5 [more than sufficient]). No differences were found among professions and nations. Skills that surgeons rated below average (median <6.0; scale: 1 [low]–10 [high]) included tropical disease management and maxillofacial, neurological, gynecological, ophthalmic, and nerve repair surgery. The deployment caseload was most often reported as <1 case per week (41/99, 41.4 %). The need for professional psychological help was rated at a median of 1.0 (IQR 1.0–1.0; scale: 1 [not at all]–5 [very much]). ConclusionsMilitary surgical teams report overall adequate preparedness for deployment. Challenges remain for establishing broadly skilled teams because of a low deployment caseload and ongoing primary specializations. Additional training and exposure were indicated for several specialism-specific skill areas. The need for specific training should be addressed through customized predeployment programs.

Social skills training with a tabletop role-playing game, before and during the pandemic of 2020: in-person and online group sessions.

The area of social skills is broad, in theory and in practice. For social skills training, various clinical practices have been applied in group sessions, as have motivational resources such as role-playing games (RPGs). In recent years, the need arose to assess the clinical impact of the pandemic. The objective of this study was to determine the impact that the pandemic has had on in-person and online social skills training. We evaluated six subjects with autism spectrum disorder, with or without another, similar disorder, each of whom attended a total of 12 two-hour RPG sessions over a 12-month period. The original (Portuguese-language) version of the Social Skills Inventory for Adolescents was applied at three different time points (pre-, mid-, and post-intervention). After six in-person tabletop RPG sessions, there was an increase in the mean frequency scores and a decrease in the mean difficulty scores. However, during the pandemic, the remaining six sessions were conducted online and the effect was the opposite. Our data indicate that there is a need for further studies assessing social skills training in online contexts.

Expanding pathways to clinical and translational research training with stackable microcredentials: A pilot study.

The proportion of physician-investigators involved in biomedical research is shrinking even as the need for high-quality, interdisciplinary research is growing. Building the physician-investigator workforce is thus a pressing concern. Flexible, "light-weight" training modalities can help busy physician-investigators prepare for key stages of the research life cycle and personalize their learning to their own needs. Such training can also support researchers from diverse backgrounds and lighten the work of mentors. The University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Clinical Research Education designed the Stackables Microcredentials in Clinical and Translational Research (Stackables) program to provide flexible, online training to supplement and enhance formal training programs. This training utilizes a self-paced, just-in-time format along with an interactive, storytelling approach to sustain learner engagement. Learners earn badges for completing modules and certificates for completing "stacks" in key competency areas. In this paper, we describe the genesis and development of the Stackables program and report the results of a pilot study in which we evaluated changes in confidence in key skill areas from pretest to posttest, as well as engagement and perceived effectiveness. Our Stackables pilot study showed statistically significant gains in learner confidence in all skill areas from pretest to posttest. Pilot participants reported that the module generated high levels of engagement and enhanced their skills, knowledge, and interest in the subject. Stackables provide an important complement to formal coursework by focusing on discrete skill areas and allowing learners to access the training they need when they need it.

The impact of gestational diabetes on infants’ neurodevelopmental status: a cohort study

Objective: The prevalence of gestational diabetes is increasing worldwide. Several studies have indicated that gestational diabetes can cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children. None of them has examined all areas of neurodevelopment. We conducted this pilot study to compare the neurodevelopmental status in infants of mothers with and without gestational diabetes. Materials and Methods: Forty infants of mothers with gestational diabetes and 40 infants of healthy mothers were included and followed up at 6 and 12 months old of age. The primary data of the study were extracted from a cohort study (PERSIAN Birth Cohort) done in Yazd province, Iran. Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was used as a standard test to assess all domains of neurodevelopment. Finally, the data obtained from the questionnaire were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Data analysis showed a significant relationship between gestational diabetes and neurodevelopment in the area of problem solving at one year old, but its relationship with other domains was not significant. In the case group, there was a significant relationship between the type of treatment (insulin therapy) and neurodevelopment in the area of gross motor skills at one year of age. Conclusion: Based on this study, it seems that infants' neurodevelopment in the area of problem solving has been affected by gestational diabetes. Thus, the role of physicians in follow up of the neurodevelopmental progress of infants of diabetic mothers is significant