A school-based physical activity intervention in primary school: effects on physical activity, sleep, aerobic fitness, and motor competence.

Objective: The "Super Quinas" project evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention program to improve physical activity, aerobic fitness, sleep, and motor competence on children in primary school. Methods: The experimental group (n = 19) enrolled in a 12-week intervention program (one more extra-curricular activity class of 60 min per week) compared to the CG (n = 19), all aged 9-10 years. Physical activity (PA) and sleep were measured by accelerometry, and aerobic fitness was measured by Children's Yo-Yo test (YYIR1C) during the 1st week (PRE), the 6th week (DUR), and the 12th week (POST) of the intervention program. Motor Competence in PRE and POST intervention was also assessed by the Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) instrument. Heart rate (HR, assessed using HR monitors), and enjoyment level were recorded during all intervention program classes. A linear mixed model analysis (i.e., within-subject analyses) was performed. Results: Comparing the EG and CG in DUR and POST, the EG spent ~18 min and ~ 34 min more time in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day (p < 0.001); had ~44 min and ~ 203 min less sedentary time per day (p < 0.001); performed more 44 and 128 m in the Children's Yo-Yo test compared to CG (p < 0.001) and slept more 17 and 114 min per night (p < 0.001). In POST motor competence was significantly better (27%) in the EG compared to CG (p < 0.001). The %HRmax during the extra-curricular classes ranged between 65 and 81% (i.e., light to moderate intensities), and the enjoyment between fun and great fun. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adding one more extra-curricular activity class of 60 min per week for 12 weeks effectively increased the levels of physical activity, aerobic fitness, sleep duration, and motor competence in children aged 9-10 years.

Prevalence of radiographic findings in chronic osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND: Simple radiography in conjunction with pertinent medical history and a comprehensive physical examination is typically adequate for diagnosing chronic osteomyelitis (CO). However, radiographic manifestations of CO lack specificity; therefore, the concordance among specialists in this regard has not been systematically assessed. This study aimed to compare and evaluate the proficiency of orthopedic surgeons and radiologists in identifying radiographic indicators present in simple radiographs for diagnosing CO. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was a correlational investigation utilizing plain radiographs obtained from a cohort of 60 patients diagnosed with CO. Comprehensive assessments of the demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and microbiological parameters were conducted. Additional variables included the anatomical location of the CO, existence of fistulas, disease duration, and presence of pseudoarthrosis. This study meticulously documented the presence or absence of six specific findings: bone destruction, which incorporates erosion and radiolucencies around implants; bone sclerosis; cortical thinning concomitant with erosion; cortical thickening; sequestrum formation; and soft-tissue swelling. RESULTS: Most patients were men (75%), with a mean age of 45.1 years. Hematogenous etiology of CO represented 23%. Bone sclerosis (71.3%) and cortical thickening (67.7%) were the most common radiographic findings, followed by soft-tissue swelling (51.3%), sequestration (47.3%), bone destruction (33.3%), and cortical erosion (30.3%). The mean agreement was 74.2%, showing a marked disagreement rate of 25.8% among all radiographic findings. The presence or absence of soft tissue edema, a prominent radiographic finding that was more important than the other findings, showed the greatest disagreement. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographic findings in CO were universally observed in all patients, demonstrating a high degree of concordance among specialists, with the exception of soft tissue swelling.

Advancements in Phase Change Materials in Asphalt Pavements for Mitigation of Urban Heat Island Effect: Bibliometric Analysis and Systematic Review.

This research presents a dual-pronged bibliometric and systematic review of the integration of phase change materials (PCM) in asphalt pavements to counteract the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The bibliometric approach discerns the evolution of PCM-inclusion asphalt research, highlighting a marked rise in the number of publications between 2019 and 2022. Notably, Chang'an University in China has emerged as a leading contributor. The systematic review addresses key questions like optimal PCM types for UHI effect mitigation, strategies for PCM leakage prevention in asphalt, and effects on mechanical properties. The findings identify polyethylene glycols (PEGs), especially PEG2000 and PEG4000, as prevailing PCM due to their wide phase-change temperature range and significant enthalpy during phase transitions. While including PCM can modify asphalt's mechanical attributes, such mixtures typically stay within performance norms. This review emphasises the potential of PCM in urban heat management and the need for further research to achieve optimal thermal and mechanical balance.

Faster, higher, stronger - together? A bibliometric analysis of author distribution in top medical education journals.

INTRODUCTION: Medical education and medical education research are growing industries that have become increasingly globalised. Recognition of the colonial foundations of medical education has led to a growing focus on issues of equity, absence and marginalisation. One area of absence that has been underexplored is that of published voices from low-income and middle-income countries. We undertook a bibliometric analysis of five top medical education journals to determine which countries were absent and which countries were represented in prestigious first and last authorship positions. METHODS: Web of Science was searched for all articles and reviews published between 2012 and 2021 within Academic Medicine, Medical Education, Advances in Health Sciences Education, Medical Teacher, and BMC Medical Education. Country of origin was identified for first and last author of each publication, and the number of publications originating from each country was counted. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed a dominance of first and last authors from five countries: USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands and Australia. Authors from these five countries had first or last authored 70% of publications. Of the 195 countries in the world, 43% (approximately 83) were not represented by a single publication. There was an increase in the percentage of publications from outside of these five countries from 23% in 2012 to 40% in 2021. CONCLUSION: The dominance of wealthy nations within spaces that claim to be international is a finding that requires attention. We draw on analogies from modern Olympic sport and our own collaborative research process to show how academic publishing continues to be a colonised space that advantages those from wealthy and English-speaking countries.

Self-regulated learning processes across different physiotherapy clinical procedural skills and time intervals: A SRL microanalysis study.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The performance of a clinical procedural skill by an individual student is associated with their use of Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) processes. However, previous research has not identified if an individual student has a similarity in their use of SRL processes across different clinical procedural skill tasks and at a time interval. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the similarity in the use of SRL processes by individual students across different clinical procedural skill tasks and at a time interval. METHODS: SRL-microanalysis was used to collect within-subject data on undergraduate physiotherapy students' use of the two key SRL processes (planning and monitoring) during their performance of different goniometry clinical procedural skills tasks and also at a fourth month interval. RESULTS: An individual student's use of key SRL processes across different clinical procedural skill tasks and at a time interval was similar. Also, this similarity was identified for students with initial successful and unsuccessful performances. CONCLUSION: Our findings have implications for the future wider practical implementation of SRL microanalysis to inform personalised SRL feedback for developing the clinical procedural skills of individual students. Further research with a greater number of students and across a wider range of clinical procedural skills will be required to confirm our findings, and also its effectiveness on feedback and future performance.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa in tracheal aspirate: Colonization, infection, and recurrence.

INTRODUCTION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory infections are challenging, and the risk of recurrence is a frequent problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors associated with the presence of P. aeruginosa, and the risk factors related to the recurrence and death of lower airway infections in inpatients in a Brazilian hospital. METHODS: Retrospective cohort with inpatients that had a sample of airways culture (tracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage) with the detection of P. aeruginosa. The patients with clinical criteria of infection were classified as ventilator-associated, hospital-acquired, or community-acquired pneumonia. P. aeruginosa in respiratory samples without symptoms was considered colonization. The antimicrobial treatment adequacy and the clinical data were evaluated. Outcome variables included mortality and recurrence. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-four patients were included in the study, most of them were men, and the majority (102) were considered infected. The average length of stay was superior to 30 days. Previous pulmonary disease was associated with the occurrence of colonization. Aminoglycosides were the most active drug according to susceptibility tests and were successfully used as monotherapy. Septic shock was a risk factor for death in the infected patients. The use of adequate antimicrobial therapy was associated with major survival, independent of the infection classification. CONCLUSION: It is possible to evaluate clinical data associated with recurrence and mortality in patients with different lung infections by P. aeruginosa. Aminoglycoside monotherapy is safe and effective in P. aeruginosa respiratory infections.

Partners in academic endeavour: Characterising student engagement across internationally excellent medical schools.

There is increasing interest in how student engagement can be enhanced in medical schools: not just engagement with learning but with broader academic practices such as curriculum development, research, organisational leadership, and community involvement. To foster evidence-based practice, it is important to understand how institutions from diverse sociocultural contexts achieve excellence in student engagement.We analysed 11 successful applications for an international award in student engagement and interviewed nine key informants from five medical schools across four continents, characterising how and why student engagement was fostered at these institutions.Document analysis revealed considerable consensus on the core practices of student engagement, as well as innovative and creative practices often in response to local strengths and challenges. The interviews uncovered the importance of an authentic partnership culture between students and faculty which sustained mutually beneficial enhancements across multiple domains. Faculty promoted, welcomed, and acted on student inputs, and students reported greater willingness to participate if they could see the benefits. These combined to create self-perpetuating virtuous cycles of academic endeavour. Successful strategies included having participatory values actively reinforced by senior leadership, engagement activities that are driven by both students and staff, and focusing on strategies with reciprocal benefits for all stakeholders.

An Objective Structured Laboratory Animal Science Examination (OSLASE) to ensure researchers' professional competence in laboratory animal science.

The evaluation of the competence of personnel working with laboratory animals is currently a challenge. Directive 2010/63/EU establishes that staff must have demonstrated competence before they perform unsupervised work with living animals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research into education and training in laboratory animal science, and the establishment of assessment strategies to confirm researchers' competence remains largely unaddressed.In this study, we analysed the implementation of a practical assessment strategy over three consecutive years (2018-2021) using the Objective Structured Laboratory Animal Science Exam (OSLASE) developed previously by us to assess professional competence. The interrater reliability (IRR) was determined based on the assessors' rating of candidates' performance at different OSLASE stations using weighted kappa (Kw) and percentage of agreement. Focus group interviews were conducted to access trainees' acceptability regarding the OSLASE.There was a moderate-to-good Kw for the majority of the scales' items (0.79 ± 0.20 ≤ Kw ≥ 0.45 ± 0.13). The percentages of agreement were also acceptable (≥75%) for all scale items but one. Trainees reported that the OSLASE had a positive impact on their engagement during practical training, and that it clarified the standards established for their performance and the skills that required improvement. These preliminary results illustrate how assessment strategies, such as the OSLASE, can be implemented in a manner that is useful for both assessors and trainees.Examen structuré objectif de science animale de laboratoire (OSASSE) pour assurer la compétence professionnelle des chercheurs en SAL.

Relación de la obesidad con la morbilidad y mortalidad en la COVID-19 / Obesity in relation to morbidity and mortality in COVID-19

Introducción: La obesidad y la COVID-19 son pandemias de alcance global constituyen un importante problema de salud en la actualidad y elevan las tasas de mortalidad, afectan a todos los grupos poblacionales, sobre todo a los más vulnerables y demuestran que no existe sistema de salud lo suficientemente bien preparado, que pueda contrarrestar los efectos de la coexistencia de ambas. Objetivo: explorar sobre las relaciones entre la obesidad y la morbilidad-mortalidad en pacientes con COVID-19. Material y Métodos: Se revisaron un total de 47 fuentes en las bases de datos PubMed, Lilacs, SciELO y Cumed, de las cuales se utilizaron 28 citas en idioma inglés y español. Se utilizaron los términos de búsqueda "obesidad y COVID-19", "Mortalidad", "Morbilidad y COVID-19", "obesidad y SARS-CoV-2". Desarrollo: La evidencia científica actual muestra que los eventos relacionados con la enfermedad COVID-19 son peores en las personas con obesidad y que esta afecta la mayoría de los procesos fisiológicos y funciones de los sistemas, conllevando a un agravamiento de los pacientes con coronavirus SARS-Cov-2. Conclusiones: La obesidad es un factor de riesgo de mortalidad en los pacientes con COVID-19. Las comorbilidades asociadas, insulino resistencia, hipercoagulabilidad y estado protrombótico, limitaciones de las funciones respiratorias y el déficit de vitamina D, entre otros constituyen factores que conllevan a una peor evolución y mortalidad.

Introduction: Obesity and COVID-19 are global pandemics that constitute a major health problem at present, raising mortality rates and affecting all population groups, especially the most vulnerable, demonstrating that there is no sufficiently well prepared health system that can counteract the effects of their coexistence. Objective: To investigate the relationship between obesity and morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Material and Methods: A total of 47 sources were reviewed in the PubMed, Lilacs, SciELO and Cumed databases, of which 28 citations in english and spanish versions were used. The search terms "obesity and COVID-19", "Mortality", "Morbidity and COVID-19", "obesity and SARS-CoV-2" were also used. Development: Current scientific evidence shows that the events related to the COVID-19 disease are worse in people with obesity and that it affects most physiological processes and system functions, leading to a worsening of patients with SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Conclusions: Obesity is a risk factor for mortality in patients with COVID-19. Associated comorbidities, insulin resistance, hypercoagulability and prothrombotic state, limitations of respiratory functions and vitamin D deficiency, among others, are factors that lead to worse evolution and mortality.

Validation of the Jefferson Scale of Patient Perception of Physician Empathy Spanish (Spain) Version in Primary Care.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Empathy is considered a prerequisite for a successful physician-patient relationship. The Jefferson Scale of Patient Perceptions of Physician Empathy (JSPPPE) is a regularly-used, patient-rated measure of physician empathy. The aim of this study is to translate and analyze the reliability and validity of the JSPPPE Spanish (Spain) version (Sp-JSPPPE) in primary care in order to use it with medical trainees. METHODS: After translation and back translation of the JSPPPE, 369 patients from 21 primary care physicians in Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) completed the Sp-JSPPPE, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Spanish (Spain) Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure (Sp-CARE), and a question about overall satisfaction. We studied internal reliability (Cronbach's α and ordinal α), homogeneity (corrected item-total correlations), construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]) and concurrent validity (Spearman's correlation) of Sp-JSPPPE. RESULTS: Cronbach's α and ordinal α were 0.870 and 0.919, respectively, for the Sp-JSPPPE, and all corrected item-total correlations exceeded the accepted cutoff of 0.30, demonstrating high internal reliability and homogeneity. CFA corroborated the one-factor structure proposed in the original version. The total score for the Sp-JSPPPE was significantly correlated with sp-CARE (Spearman's ϱ 0.651, P<.001) and with overall patient satisfaction (Spearman's ϱ 0.504, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results support the reliability and validity of the Sp-JSPPPE in primary care. Sp-JSPPPE could be useful in empathy assessment of medical trainees, both graduate and postgraduate, in the Spanish context.

Going virtual and going wide: comparing Team-Based Learning in-class versus online and across disciplines.

Team-based learning (TBL) is an active learning pedagogy developed for in-class sessions and based on the collaborative work of small groups of students. The increasing push to online and blended learning has enhanced the need to expand this pedagogy to a virtual environment, but little evidence has been produced on how students accept online synchronous sessions of TBL. The purpose of this study, that relies on 427 responses, is to present a comparative perspective of traditional in-class versus adapted fully synchronous online TBL and across different disciplinary fields. Students of two different academic years and different programs were surveyed for their acceptance of TBL. They were invited to answer closed-ended questions focused on their engagement in all TBL learning process and the final outcomes provided. Results obtained from this unique comparative study revealed a wide approval of TBL, regardless of the environment (online or in-class TBL sessions), scientific area of courses and student gender. The acceptance of fully online TBL sessions, in a similar way as traditional in-class sessions, could be a rationale for giving more use to the 'virtual' context. Other results corroborated previous researches on TBL, such the need of student awareness of TBL benefits to get more engaged in the process or the impact of student activities overload on the TBL process. Implications are informative for pedagogical practice.

Communication skills preparedness for practice: Is there a key ingredient in undergraduate curricula design?

OBJECTIVE: To characterize medical interns' experience regarding communication skills education and to explore potential associations with preparedness for practice. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-six medical interns answered an original questionnaire specifically developed to explore how well they feel their undergraduate training had prepared them in key aspects of medical communication. Instrument's psychometric properties were tested. Medical schools' curricula were considered and associations explored using non-parametric tests. RESULTS: The questionnaire reliability was high, with Cronbach's alphas ranging from 0.89 to 0.94 on all the factors. Core communication skills were highly rated. Perceived preparedness was lower in aspects concerning dealing with emotion, breaking bad news and communicating with speech impaired patients. Better preparedness was associated with a longitudinal integration of communication skills throughout the curriculum, simulation with standardized patients and real patient interviewing with feedback on communication skills. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated programs, standing on a strong experimental component, particularly combining patient-simulation strategies with continuous supervision and learner centred feedback, were associated with higher preparedness. These results support the expansion of an educational model based on simulation strategies and structured longitudinally throughout the undergraduate medical curriculum. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study intends to inform educational background and to support further development of communication skills curricula.

On pandemics and pivots: a COVID-19 reflection on envisioning the future of medical education.

The required adjustments precipitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 crisis have been challenging, but also represent a critical opportunity for the evolution and potential disruptive and constructive change of medical education. Given that the format of medical education is not fixed, but malleable and in fact must be adaptable to societal needs through ongoing reflexivity, we find ourselves in a potentially transformative learning phase for the field. An Association for Medical Education in Europe ASPIRE Academy group of 18 medical educators from seven countries was formed to consider this opportunity, and identified critical questions for collective reflection on current medical education practices and assumptions, with the attendant challenge to envision the future of medical education. This was achieved through online discussion as well as asynchronous collective reflections by group members. Four major themes and related conclusions arose from this conversation: Why we teach: the humanitarian mission of medicine should be reinforced; what we teach: disaster management, social accountability and embracing an environment of complexity and uncertainty should be the core; how we teach: open pathways to lean medical education and learning by developing learners embedded in a community context; and whom we teach: those willing to take professional responsibility. These collective reflections provide neither fully matured digests of the challenges of our field, nor comprehensive solutions; rather they are offered as a starting point for medical schools to consider as we seek to harness the learning opportunities stimulated by the pandemic.

Development of Capacitive-Type Sensors by Electrochemical Anodization: Humidity and Touch Sensing Applications.

This work describes the development of a capacitive-type sensor created from nanoporous anodic aluminium oxide (NP-AAO) prepared by the one-step anodization method conducted in potentiostatic mode and performed in a low-cost homemade system. A series of samples were prepared via an anodization campaign carried out on different acid electrolytes, in which the anodization parameters were adjusted to investigate the effect of pore size and porosity on the capacitive sensing performance. Two sensor test cases are investigated. The first case explores the use of highly uniform NP-AAO structures for humidity sensing applications while the second analyses the use of NP-AAO as a capacitive touch sensor for biological applications, namely, to detect the presence of small "objects" such as bacterial colonies of Escherichia Coli. A mathematical model based on equivalent electrical circuits was developed to evaluate the effect of humidity condensation (inside the pores) on the sensor capacitance and also to estimate the capacitance change of the sensor due to pore blocking by the presence of a certain number of bacterial microorganisms. Regarding the humidity sensing test cases, it was found that the sensitivity of the sensor fabricated in a phosphoric acid solution reaches up to 39 (pF/RH%), which is almost three times higher than the sensor fabricated in oxalic acid and about eight times higher than the sensor fabricated in sulfuric acid. Its improved sensitivity is explained in terms of the pore size effect on the mean free path and the loss of Brownian energy of the water vapour molecules. Concerning the touch sensing test case, it is demonstrated that the NP-AAO structures can be used as capacitive touch sensors because the magnitude of the capacitance change directly depends on the number of bacteria that cover the nanopores; the fraction of the electrode area activated by bacterial pore blocking is about 4.4% and 30.2% for B1 (E. Coli OD600nm = 0.1) and B2 (E. Coli OD600nm = 1) sensors, respectively.

Immunity and Protection Provided by Live Modified Vaccines Against Paratyphoid Salmonella in Poultry-An Applied Perspective.

Several serotypes of non-host-specific or paratyphoid Salmonella have been linked with contamination of poultry meat, and eggs, resulting in foodborne outbreaks in humans. Vaccination of poultry against paratyphoid Salmonella is a frequent strategy used to reduce the levels of infection and transmission, which ultimately can lead to lower rates of human infections. Live vaccines have been developed and used in poultry immediately after hatching as a result of their ability to colonize the gut, stimulate a mucosal immune response, induce a competitive inhibitory effect against homologous wild strains, and reduce colonization and excretion of Salmonella. Furthermore, vaccines can competitively exclude some heterologous strains of Salmonella from colonizing the gastrointestinal tract when young poultry are immunologically immature. In addition, various studies have suggested that booster vaccination with live vaccines a few weeks after initial vaccination is essential to increase the level of protection and achieve better cross-protective immunity. Vaccination of breeders, broilers, layers, and turkeys with modified live Salmonella vaccines is a common intervention that has become an important component in poultry companies' multistep prevention programs to meet increasingly demanding customer and regulatory food safety requirements. Both live and inactivated vaccines play a critical role in a comprehensive control program for chicken and turkey breeders and commercial layers. This review examines the response and protection conferred by live modified vaccines against non-host-specific Salmonella that can be considered for the design and implementation of vaccination strategies in poultry.

Artículo regular­Inmunidad y protección que brindan las vacunas vivas modificadas contra salmonelas paratíficas en la avicultura­Una perspectiva aplicada. Varios serotipos de Salmonella paratífica no específica de huésped se han relacionado con la contaminación de la carne de pollo y huevos lo que ha provocado brotes de origen alimentario en los seres humanos. La vacunación de aves comerciales contra Salmonella paratífica es una estrategia que se utiliza con frecuencia para reducir los niveles de infección y transmisión, que en última instancia puede conducir a tasas más bajas de infecciones en humanos. Se han desarrollado y utilizado vacunas vivas en aves comerciales inmediatamente después de la eclosión como resultado de su capacidad para colonizar el intestino, estimular una respuesta inmunitaria de la mucosa, inducir un efecto inhibidor competitivo contra cepas silvestres homólogas y reducir la colonización y excreción de Salmonella. Además, las vacunas pueden excluir competitivamente algunas cepas heterólogas de Salmonella de colonizar el tracto gastrointestinal cuando las aves jóvenes son inmunológicamente inmaduras. Además, varios estudios han sugerido que la vacunación de refuerzo con vacunas vivas unas semanas después de la vacunación inicial es esencial para aumentar el nivel de protección y lograr una mejor inmunidad de protección cruzada. La vacunación de reproductoras, pollos de engorde, aves de postura y pavos con vacunas vivas modificadas contra Salmonella es una intervención común que se ha convertido en un componente importante en los programas de prevención de múltiples pasos de las empresas avícolas para cumplir con los requisitos de los clientes y regulatorios de seguridad alimentaria. Tanto las vacunas vivas como las inactivadas desempeñan un papel fundamental en un programa de control integral para productores de pollos, pavos y aves ponedoras comerciales. Esta revisión examina la respuesta y la protección conferidas por las vacunas vivas modificadas contra Salmonella no específica del huésped que pueden ser consideradas para el diseño e implementación de estrategias de vacunación en la avicultura.

Innovative, integrative, and interactive in-class activity on metabolic regulation: Evaluating educational impacts.

Medical students tend to have difficulties in developing a holistic view of metabolic pathway and hormone regulation. To address this issue, an interactive activity was implemented for first-year medical students at the School of Medicine, University of Minho, Portugal. Students' previous knowledge on metabolic pathways was evaluated by a pre-test followed by an interactive activity. In the supervised activity, students were challenged to elaborate a diagrammatic representation regarding enzymes, co-factors, and hormonal metabolic regulation in early fasting during the night, as well as in well-fed conditions. The activity was concluded with a post-test to determine the students' learning gains and a few days later students were evaluated by a final exam. Afterwards, students evaluated the activity by filling a questionnaire. Results from four different cohorts showed that the activity resulted in significant learning gains, particularly favoring students who have less prior knowledge. The comparison between the pre-test and the final exam also revealed significant learning gains for low achievers students. On the questionnaires, the majority of the students rated the activity as good or very good. Students agreed that this activity promotes: (a) reactivation of previous knowledge; (b) a better understanding of the interconnections between the metabolic pathways; (c) the application of learned concepts in real scenarios; and (d) sharing knowledge with peers. This study describes an active, unpretentious, and easily implemented activity available for early medical and biochemical curricula.

The assessment of researchers' competence in experimental procedures with laboratory animals: A three-step methodology to develop a global rating scale.

To conduct animal experiments, researchers must be competent to handle and perform interventions on living animals in compliance with regulations. Laboratory animal science training programmes and licensing bodies therefore need to be able to reliably ensure and certify the professional competence of researchers and technicians. This requires access to assessment strategies which can verify knowledge as well as capturing performative and behavioural dimensions of assessment. In this paper, we describe the process of developing different global rating scales measuring candidates' competence in a performative assessment. We set out the following sequence, with three crucial phases, in the process of scale development: (a) Item Development, (b) Scale Development and (c) Piloting of the Scale. We note each phase's different sub-steps. Despite the emergent need to ensure the competence of researchers using animals in scientific procedures, to our best knowledge there are very few species and procedure/skill specific assessment tools for this purpose, and the assessment methodology literature in the field is very limited. This paper provides guidance for those who need to develop and assess proficiency in laboratory animal procedures by setting out a method that can be used to create the required tools and illustrating how competence assessment strategies can be implemented.

Effects of graded levels of exogenous xylanase in corn-soy diets with two amino acid density and fat levels postpellet in broiler chickens: live performance, energy utilization, digestibility, and carcass characteristics.

This experiment evaluated the interactive effects among xylanase (XL; 0, 8,000, 16,000, and 32,000 BXU/kg), amino acid density (AA; high and low 10% difference), and additional fat (AF; 0 or +1.17%) applied postpellet in corn-soybean meal diets with dried distillers grains with solubles on performance, energy utilization, digestibility, and carcass traits in Ross 708 male broilers. A completely randomized block (pen location) design with 16 treatments arranged factorially (4 XL levels, 2 AA, and 2 AF) was analyzed using mixed models. No significant interactions or main effects were observed for feed intake at 49 d (P > 0.05) but chicks were heavier when consuming diets containing 0 or 8,000 BXU/kg (P = 0.015), high AA (P < 0.001), and 1.17% AF (P < 0.001). Feed efficiency did not vary with XL supplementation (P > 0.05) but was improved in broilers fed the higher AA and AF diet (P = 0.015 for AA × AF). AME, GE, and CP digestibility were assessed at days 17 and 42. There were multiple interactions observed at day 17 with a significant three-way showing that AME and CP digestibility improved when increasing the XL and AF levels in the high AA fed birds compared with the low-density diets. At day 42, XL and AF significantly affected AMEn, GE, or CP digestibility; however, there was a significant interaction between XL and AF. Diets supplemented with 1.17% AF improved AMEn significantly in broilers fed the highest XL level. Breast yield was not affected by treatments, but wing yield decreased with high AA density when diets contained 16,000 BXU/kg without differences for the other diets (P = 0.04 for XL × AA). Effects of XL, AA, and AF interactions on performance and cut-up-part yields have to be considered until day 42 for most of the variables studied. However, at 49 d of age, the dietary AA density and AF did not markedly influence the response to XL in maize-based diets.