A model for improving the learning environment in high-stress and emotion-bound clinical settings.

INTRODUCTION: In clinical settings, it is necessary to create a clinical learning environment that provides the ground for the learners to acquire competencies especially in high-stress and emotion-bound clinical settings. METHODS: In the present study, a model for improving the learning environment in high-stress and emotion-bound clinical settings was designed by conducting a multi-method study in the form of three sub-studies. RESULTS: This model was designed with 3 pivotal concepts; organizing learning opportunities around safe care, fair participation in learning opportunities and creating a positive emotional climate and 6 peripheral concepts; designing physical space and appropriate equipment for education and care, preparing learners to attend the clinical setting, preparing learners to participate in learning opportunities, balancing the learner role and the care provided by the learners, the presence of a competent educator and providing education to all learners, and acquiring the ability to manage emotions by learners, faculty and staff. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of the model obtained from this study provides the basis for solving the challenges of clinical learning environments, especially in high-stress and emotion-bound clinical settings, and improves clinical education and the realization of educational and care outcomes.

Long-term resveratrol administration improves diabetes-induced pancreatic oxidative stress, inflammatory status, and ß cell function in male rats

Abstract Diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by insulin resistance or a defect in the pancreatic beta cells in insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effectiveness of long-term administration of resveratrol on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in the pancreatic tissue of diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 24) were randomly divided into four groups of six animals, namely a healthy group, a healthy group receiving resveratrol, a diabetic control group, and a diabetic group receiving resveratrol. Diabetes was induced by single dose injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg; ip), 15 min after injection of nicotinamide (110 mg/kg; ip). Resveratrol was also administered by gavage (5 mg/kg/day) for 4 months. Administration of resveratrol alleviated hyperglycemia, weight loss and pancreatic ß cell function measured by HOMA-ß. Resveratrol improved oxidative stress (nitrate/nitrite, 8-isoprostane and glutathione) and proinflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor α, cyclooxygenase 2, interleukin 6 and nuclear factor kappa B) in the pancreatic tissue of diabetic rats. Resveratrol administration had no significant effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme. These observations indicate that resveratrol administration may be effective as a beneficial factor in improving pancreatic function and reducing the complications of diabetes

Computer Vision System for Mango Fruit Defect Detection Using Deep Convolutional Neural Network.

Machine learning techniques play a significant role in agricultural applications for computerized grading and quality evaluation of fruits. In the agricultural domain, automation improves the quality, productivity, and economic growth of a country. The quality grading of fruits is an essential measure in the export market, especially defect detection of a fruit's surface. This is especially pertinent for mangoes, which are highly popular in India. However, the manual grading of mango is a time-consuming, inconsistent, and subjective process. Therefore, a computer-assisted grading system has been developed for defect detection in mangoes. Recently, machine learning techniques, such as the deep learning method, have been used to achieve efficient classification results in digital image classification. Specifically, the convolution neural network (CNN) is a deep learning technique that is employed for automated defect detection in mangoes. This study proposes a computer-vision system, which employs CNN, for the classification of quality mangoes. After training and testing the system using a publicly available mango database, the experimental results show that the proposed method acquired an accuracy of 98%.

A Review on Technologies for Localisation and Navigation in Autonomous Railway Maintenance Systems.

Smart maintenance is essential to achieving a safe and reliable railway, but traditional maintenance deployment is costly and heavily human-involved. Ineffective job execution or failure in preventive maintenance can lead to railway service disruption and unsafe operations. The deployment of robotic and autonomous systems was proposed to conduct these maintenance tasks with higher accuracy and reliability. In order for these systems to be capable of detecting rail flaws along millions of mileages they must register their location with higher accuracy. A prerequisite of an autonomous vehicle is its possessing a high degree of accuracy in terms of its positional awareness. This paper first reviews the importance and demands of preventive maintenance in railway networks and the related techniques. Furthermore, this paper investigates the strategies, techniques, architecture, and references used by different systems to resolve the location along the railway network. Additionally, this paper discusses the advantages and applicability of on-board-based and infrastructure-based sensing, respectively. Finally, this paper analyses the uncertainties which contribute to a vehicle's position error and influence on positioning accuracy and reliability with corresponding technique solutions. This study therefore provides an overall direction for the development of further autonomous track-based system designs and methods to deal with the challenges faced in the railway network.

Medical interns; the neglected learners of the maternity ward learning environment.

BACKGROUND: Clinical training during internship is an important part of medical education. The maternity ward is a clinical environment in which medical students pass their obstetrics and gynecology internship to obtain competencies in this field. The present study was conducted to explain medical interns' manner of learning in the maternity ward. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study was conducted using a qualitative approach with the inductive content analysis method. This study observed the maternity wards of teaching hospitals affiliated to medical sciences universities of Isfahan and Shahrekord. Data were collected through observation and semi-structured individual interviews. RESULTS: Two main categories and seven subcategories emerged from the analysis of the data. Inadequate participation in learning opportunities included the following three subcategories: the incongruousness of the learning opportunities with the educational goals, inadequate readiness for participation in learning opportunities, and the overlap between learning opportunities and diminished autonomous practice. Inadequate formal and structured education included the following four subcategories: inadequate learning support and direction, subordinate roles and aimless presence, the pale educational role played by the attendants and senior residents, and learning through the support of midwifery educators. CONCLUSION: Participation in and access to learning opportunities in the maternity ward are very difficult for interns. Interns, therefore, need to attend the maternity ward by a structured program and in the company of training supervisors or competent educators to obtain the required competencies in pregnancy and childbirth.

The clinical learning environment of a maternity ward: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical learning environments influence the learning and performance of learners by creating learning opportunities and experiences. The maternity ward offers a major educational opportunity for midwifery students, obstetrics and gynecology residents and medical interns to acquire and improve crucial skills. OBJECTIVES: This study seeks to determine the way in which the clinical learning environment of the maternity ward creates learning opportunities and enables the accumulation of experiences for the noted learners. METHODS: This qualitative study was conducted using inductive content analysis at the Maternity Ward of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, affiliated with University of Medical Sciences. Midwifery students, medical interns and obstetrics and gynecology residents spend a certain period of time in this ward as a mandatory part of their obstetrics and gynecology training. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and observations and were then analyzed in MAXQDA concurrently with data collection. RESULTS: Three main categories emerged from the analysis of the data collected from the interviews and observations: disorganized learning opportunities, heavy emotional load and learners' abandonment in the care-provider and learner role. CONCLUSION: The maternity ward lacked the necessary organization to generate an environment conducive to learning and independent practice for the three groups of learners. The learners' training and acquired skills were thus affected by the clinical learning environment.