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Open radical prostatectomy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: perioperative comparison of the procedures
Get PDFRadical prostatectomy is seen as one of the main methods for the treatment of prostate cancer and has been performed for more than 150 years, being considered the gold standard for the treatment of localized disease. In recent years, laparoscopic and robot-assisted access has received notoriety, with oncological results similar to the open technique associated with the benefits of the minimally invasive approach. Aim: To compare complications and perioperative complications in patients undergoing radical open prostatectomy with the laparoscopic approach. Method: This is a retrospective data analysis performed by reviewing the electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer at the Regional Hospital of Vale do Paraíba, SP, Brazil (HRVP). Data were collected regarding the procedures performed from January 2014 to December 2018, totaling 35 patients undergoing Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy and 35 patients undergoing Open Radical Prostatectomy. Intra and perioperative data were analyzed, specifically the surgical time, blood transfusion rate, type and time of drainage of the surgical site, and length of hospital stay. The data were subsequently analyzed, and the results of both techniques were compared. Results: When comparing the averages of operative times, we obtained a variation rate of 26.2%. The calculated p-value was 0.00002, demonstrating that the operative time in the open group was significantly shorter. When comparing the mean time taken to remove the drain, we observed a variation rate of 37.8%. The calculated p-value was 0.00004, this time being statistically shorter in the laparoscopy group. The other variables evaluated did not show statistical significance between the groups. Conclusion: The main advantage of an open group is that the procedure can be performed in less time. The main advantage of the laparoscopic group was the possibility of removing the drain before patients were operated on by PRA
Evaluating the Correlation between Specific Macroeconomic Performance and the Price of Crude Oil in Nigeria
Get PDFThe study examines the relationship between oil price shocks and some selected Nigeria’s Macroeconomic variables by utilizing quarterly data for the period of 1980-2022 using a time frame of 46 years. The selected macroeconomic variables are Real Growth Domestic Product, Consumer Price Index and Real Exchange Rate. VECM was used as a technique for analysis, the results obtained from the estimation of the VECM model showed that there are long-run interdependences of oil price shocks that have a significant impact on Real Growth Domestic Product, Consumer Price Index and Real Exchange Rate in Nigeria. The study concluded, that the major source of revenue and foreign earnings to the economy is mainly from the sales of crude oil, as the economy is entirely dependent on the level of global oil prices, as such most of the macroeconomic indicators of the economy are directly or indirectly being affected by the oil price fluctuation in the economy, the study therefore Recommended that, since Nigeria doesn’t have control of oil prices, it is required that government diversify the economy to reduce the adverse effect of shocks emanating from the fluctuation of global oil prices, the country should diversify its export from oil exports to non-oil export Diversification of the economy is necessary to reduce the consequences of external shocks. The diversification of the oil revenue base would be a means of minimizing reliance on crude oil and petroleum products
Digital Healthcare Innovations and Idea Management
Get PDFThe aim of the paper is to analyse the global demand development and funding of digital healthcare innovations and also characterise idea management trends in the digital healthcare context. Web-based idea management systems (IMS) fall in line with the growing importance of information communication technologies, the spread of open innovation and co-innovation, etc. Especially systems, which are based on the Internet during COVID-19 have become important tools in all sectors. Plus, over the last few years the changes related to digital healthcare have taken place and now in this context the questions have been raised. How could they be linked with a web-based IMS? What are digital healthcare innovation demands and funding trends? The changes in search habits for health information over the last three years have become statistically significant. The growth of funding volumes has followed these changes because both digital health care and digital therapeutics have increased much faster during pandemic times than before. The growth in 2020 compared to 2019 reached 53.9%, but in 2021 compared to 2020 it even accounted 74.7%. The Asian region and Europe have also seen a sharp increase in the leverage over the past two years, but pre-pandemic levels were significantly lower than in the United States. Average annual volumes of investments in digital health have increased by about 4.2 Bn per year in Asia, by about 0.83 Bn per year in other regions. Such demand and funding could boost new innovations in healthcare with web-based idea management systems by internal, external, and mixed approaches in organisations with active and passive IMS. Plus, IMS could become a tool to create innovations in product or organisational innovation
Studying Away Post COVID-19 and Beyond: Making High Impact Learning Practices Equitable
Get PDFHalfway through the Spring 2020 academic year, many institutions canceled face-to-face classes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this in-person to online transition, educators had to rethink how studying away could be offered to undergraduate students. Technology allowed some to provide study away opportunities, incorporate inclusive pedagogies, diversify the student study away population, and specifically target students traditionally underrepresented in study-away/study-abroad programs. This includes students who are first-generation, of color, from working-class families, and with disabilities. In doing so, the author of this work was able to provide high-impact learning practices for diverse students and expose students to the research process while studying away, via an online asynchronous course. Here, the author shares some practices of leading a fully online study away course via video site visits, virtual student travel, and expert interviews. This work is important as it advances the literature on the pedagogies and practices of Interdisciplinary educators
Honors High School Graduates Students’ Misconceptions Regarding Evolutionary Theory of Biology
Get PDFOver the years, there has been a growing emphasis in scientific research on uncovering students\u27 alternative conceptions or interpretations of fundamental concepts and principles within the field of biology. This endeavor has yielded a wealth of valuable international bibliographic data, particularly about the teaching and reception of the theory of evolution among respondents. Specifically, this paper addresses the theory of evolution, investigating alternative perspectives held by honors graduate students from the third Lyceum for Biology who are enrolled in medical school. Additionally, the study explores how gender influences participants\u27 viewpoints. To achieve these objectives, a comprehensive multiple-choice questionnaire was administered to students, inquiring not only about their background knowledge in biology, including gender, age, and level of interest measured on a Likert scale but also about their understanding of the fundamental tenets of evolutionary theory. A subsequent analysis of the data collected was conducted to determine if there were any correlations between gender and the percentages of correct and incorrect responses, as well as whether these responses were indicative of gender-based patterns or statistical deviations. According to the statistical analysis of the collected data, many honors students within our educational framework hold alternative viewpoints about biological concepts. Furthermore, there was no correlation between misconceptions identified in the questionnaire and variables such as grade in the Panhellenic exams, gender, or interest in biology courses. The findings of this study hold implications for the enhancement of science education, curriculum development, and the ongoing professional development of educators in the field
A Writing Needs Analysis of Moroccan Engineering Students
Get PDFThis study investigates the specific writing needs and document types in Moroccan engineering education through a needs analysis involving 253 participants, including engineers, teachers, and students. Using a quantitative approach, data are collected through questionnaires to identify key writing tasks and document requirements relevant to engineering professionals. The study reveals significant writing needs in areas such as technical reports, project documentation, and professional correspondence. Results indicate that students often struggle with technical writing sub-skills, including clarity, coherence, and appropriate use of technical vocabulary. The analysis highlights a gap between current writing instruction methods and practical needs. Data analysis using SPSS identifies common document types and their specific writing requirements. Descriptive statistics, and Cronbach’s Alpha for reliability, are conducted to assess the relationship between identified needs and current instructional practices. The findings underscore the importance of aligning writing instruction with the engineering profession’s requirements to enhance workforce preparedness. Tailored writing courses are recommended to address these needs effectively. This research offers valuable insights into the specific writing needs of engineering students and professionals and provides practical recommendations for curriculum development, advocating for teaching methods that align with modern engineering environments
The Effectiveness of Three Vocabulary Learning Tasks from The Perspective of Technique Feature Analysis
Get PDFThis study investigated the effectiveness of vocabulary learning tasks based on the Technique Feature Analysis framework. The framework provides criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of vocabulary learning tasks. The study investigated the correlation between the predictability of the framework and the task’s effect on vocabulary learning and retention. The study employed an experimental design in which participants were assigned to three different vocabulary tasks involving 15 target words. The tasks were designed to vary in the presence of the vocabulary learning criteria outlined in the Technique Feature Analysis. Learners’ knowledge of word forms and word meanings was assessed immediately and one week later. The results provided mixed support for the Technique Feature Analysis framework. While no significant differences were found in immediate form-meaning recognition, and delayed form recognition, the framework was predictive of learners’ delayed meaning recognition performance
Online English Language Teaching in the University of Maroua during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Exploring Platforms and Interaction: Exploring platforms and interaction
No full textWith the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lockdown was imposed on Cameroon in 2019. During the period of the lockdown, the University of Maroua enforced online teaching. The aim of this paper is to examine how English Language courses were taught online in the Department of English Language and Literature in the Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences. The objectives are twofold. Firstly, to examine the platforms used for lectures during the confinement and secondly, to investigate interaction patterns employed for online teaching. Data for the study was collected from students and lecturers through convenient sampling technique in the 2019-2021 academic year. Only lecturers and students who actively took part in online pedagogy during the COVID-19 lockdown were involved in the study. The researcher exerted participant observation, 30 screenshots of online teaching, interview with lecturers and 102 copies of a questionnaire administered to Level One and Master’s One students. Results show that three platforms were used: WhatsApp (100%), Google classroom (88.76%) and zoom (56.75%). With regard to the method employed in teaching, interaction with the use of text and voice was done on the platforms, especially WhatsApp. The interaction was between Lecturer – learners, human – machine (screen) and Learner – Learner. Lecturers equally placed electronic material such as course synopsis and books on the WhatsApp and Google classroom platforms for students to exploit. The findings of this study offer vigorous acumens to higher education stake holders in Cameroon on the implementation of online teaching and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in teaching. The researcher recommends incessant training for lecturers and students so that they can copiously grasp online pedagogy and go global with ICTs, especially Artificial intelligence (AI) which is one of the fastest growing Information Technologies
ChatGPT as Teacher Assistant for Physics Teaching
Get PDFThis study explores the integration of ChatGPT as a teaching assistant in physics education, emphasizing its potential to transform traditional pedagogical approaches. ChatGPT facilitates interactive and inquiry-based learning grounded in constructivist learning theory, allowing students to engage actively in experiments and better grasp abstract concepts through hands-on activities. The AI\u27s adaptive dialogue systems promote socio-constructivist learning by encouraging social interaction and personalized feedback, which is essential for addressing individual learning gaps and enhancing student engagement. ChatGPT\u27s ability to simulate real-world physics problems and provide immediate feedback fosters experiential learning, making complex concepts more accessible and promoting critical thinking skills. By offering tailored interventions and adapting to individual learning paces, ChatGPT supports a personalized educational experience that caters to the unique needs of each student. This adaptability is particularly beneficial in physics education, where students often struggle with abstract concepts and require immediate clarification to progress effectively. The paper concludes that the synthesis of generative AI and pedagogy has the potential to reshape science education, fostering deeper understanding and curiosity among students. By leveraging innovative methodologies and augmented data, ChatGPT enriches teacher-student interactions, creating a comprehensive educational experience that promotes a culture of curiosity and exploration, thereby nurturing future scientists and engineers. Ultimately, the integration of ChatGPT into physics education offers a valuable opportunity to enhance student engagement and understanding of scientific concepts through interactive and personalized support
Book Review: The Comprehensive Cancer Centre: Development, Integration, and Implementation
Get PDFCancer has become one of most serious problems for public health, inducing a heavy economic burden on individual and national dimensions. An extensive scope of healthcare experts has unceasingly been making efforts to tackle this life-threatening illness. This edited volume, The Comprehensive Cancer Centre: Development, Integration, and Implementation, offers a platform to share the experiences and ideas from oncology studies across 18 chapters with specialists from America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Its objectives pertain to developing a comprehensive cancer care plan with guidance for hospitals and medical institutions and authorities, helping cancer centres upgrade their infrastructure, practice standards, policies and procedures aligning with the latest, highest international standards, especially for low- to middle-income countries, and exhibiting substantial measures for prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation in a sustainable and cost-effective manner.Cancer care incurs voluminous direct and indirect costs; for instance, medical expenses and a loss of individual productivity, correspondingly. A mission-based comprehensive cancer care includes a variety of tangible and intangible arrangement, including physical settings, specialty roles, innovations and services, for which integrated delivery and novel therapies are necessary, with the aid of advanced support systems. High specialisation involves clinical care, multidisciplinary application, infrastructure, community outreach, education and training, and research. Such a care model also aims to diminish “financial toxicity” (p. 149), reduce healthcare inequality due to restricted resources, achieve better outcomes for cancer care and improved life quality for cancer patients, and increase survival rates. Eliminating disparities results in medical safety, welfare, social justice, and human rights.A comprehensive cancer care centre offers inpatient and outpatient treatment and services. Inpatient ward settings and outpatient infusion centres need modern floor designs to ensure a clean and safe environment, in addition to paying attention to further staff training, facilities, and operational and financial management. Telecommunication technology sustains telepathology and telemedicine services, which promotes present trends in the contemporary healthcare field. Moreover, non-clinical care is also provided, such as palliative and hospice care (which encompasses physiological, social, psychological, emotional, mental and spiritual issues), and end-of-life counselling (which delivers adequate resources and guidance to patients who are suffering terminal illnesses or nearing death whether or not they are experiencing death anxiety).Such a wide-ranging approach results in evidence-based, patient-centred care, with decreased readmissions to the hospital and enhanced patient satisfaction. It forms a complex of pathological services, intensive care, mental health and emotional disorders in order to look after the physical, psychological, and functional wellness of cancer patients. Therefore, extensive assistance is essential, regarding laboratories, blood banks, ancillary services for transplantation and transfusion, and biobanks to store biological samples for research, for which expertise, staff, placements, updated medical instruments, and a suitable health information technology system are heavily invested.This complete spectrum of oncology care comprises survivorship care, including prevention, surveillance, intervention, and coordination. Community outreach becomes an integral part, providing cancer education and resources, scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, navigating treatments, giving support during appointments, and helping with financial guidance. However, certain obstacles hinder faster progress: fragmented care delays diagnosis and treatment, information technology systems often lack big data, education and training are immature, and international and local governmental support does not suffice.Despite the holistic view of this patient-oriented cancer centre presentation, this compilation overlooks care for care-givers and patients’ family members who need clinical support when they play a critical role in taking care of critically ill patients, especially for paediatric oncology and for the aged population. Similarly, compassion fatigue among medical frontliners is always given limited attention, because of which service quality is possibly to deteriorate. There has also been little detailed discussion on pain management; for example, bone metastases, for which complementary and alternative therapy is likely effective.Here are some suggestions for ameliorating the readability of this book. First, promoting advanced medical directives is important for healthcare nowadays. This medical power of attorney allows patients to leave instructions on their healthcare preferences when they are still able to present their will and intended arrangements in order to ensure dignity and respect in death. Second, cultural and religious factors affect patients’ values; hence, the outputs of this care model may vary among different groups. Although the authors do come from various regions and countries, they could explore these factors more deeply. Third, even though outpatient cancer care during COVID-19 has been addressed in different chapters, there is a lack of in-depth examination; for example, on topics such as workplace safety, floor design and work flow, procurement, use of space in order to align with social and physical distancing, visits, and ward ventilation. Preparation for a peak in infectious diseases should be a popular topic for cancer patients. Last, this review proposes a protocol to develop this care approach from a global perspective. This will not only help translational research to incorporate studies into healthcare practices, but also low- and middle-income countries to cope with cancer.This compilation confers multi-specialty care, using a diversified service team with multimodality expertise: specialised physicians, nurses, case managers, oncology-specific psychiatrists, psychotherapists, pharmacists, radiologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dieticians, social workers, religious practitioners, and financial planners. Being aided by these human service professionals, precision medicine or personalised medicine maximises the utilisation of healthcare resources for patient care, and optimises sustainable, interdisciplinary and high-quality service, attaining smarter targeted therapies and securing quality management in the sense of structure, process and outcome. Furnishing the practitioner with an all-round view, the book is a worthy resource for clinical and healthcare professionals, scientists, researchers, administrators and policy makers, pharmacy and laboratory service providers, students, patients, and caregivers, who are willing to equip themselves with cutting edge concepts and to accomplish social equity in medical services