Improving engineering students' understanding of classical physics through visuo-haptic simulations.

Introduction: The teaching process plays a crucial role in the training of professionals. Traditional classroom-based teaching methods, while foundational, often struggle to effectively motivate students. The integration of interactive learning experiences, such as visuo-haptic simulators, presents an opportunity to enhance both student engagement and comprehension. Methods: In this study, three simulators were developed to explore the impact of visuo-haptic simulations on engineering students' engagement and their perceptions of learning basic physics concepts. The study used an adapted end-user computing satisfaction questionnaire to assess students' experiences and perceptions of the simulators' usability and its utility in learning. Results: Feedback from participants suggests a positive reception towards the use of visuo-haptic simulators, highlighting their usefulness in improving the understanding of complex physics principles. Discussion: Results suggest that incorporating visuo-haptic simulations into educational contexts may offer significant benefits, particularly in STEM courses, where traditional methods may be limited. The positive responses from participants underscore the potential of computer simulations to innovate pedagogical strategies. Future research will focus on assessing the effectiveness of these simulators in enhancing students' learning and understanding of these concepts in higher-education physics courses.

VIDEOSURGERY TEACHING HISTORY / HISTÓRICO DO ENSINO DA VIDEOCIRURGIA

Introduction: Surgical procedures were systematized and scientifically based at the end of the 19th century by William Stewart Halsted. Through scientific studies, anatomical principles, knowledge of physiology and pathology, strict aseptic techniques, gentle tissue manipulation, among others, were systematized. This lasted for centuries. But the modern technological era invented videosurgery and complicated the previously used teaching method. Objective: Review previously published teaching methods using simulators. Method: This is a narrative review carried out in the PubMed and Scielo databases. The search used the following keywords: videosurgery, teaching, simulators, training. The inclusion criteria comprised review articles and experimental studies, written in Portuguese and English and available in full text. The selected articles were analyzed based on the technologies covered, future perspectives and challenges mentioned. Result: 28 articles were included. Conclusion: As the results of this review on simulators show, once trained residents begin learning videolaparoscopic operations much more easily and safely.

Introdução: Os procedimentos cirúrgicos foram sistematizados e embasados cientificamente no final do século XIX por William Stewart Halsted. Por meio de estudos científicos, princípios anatômicos, conhecimento de fisiologia e patologia que permitiram sistematizar técnica asséptica estrita, manipulação tecidual gentil, dentro de outros. Isto perdurou por séculos. Mas a moderna era tecnológica inventou a videocirurgia e complicou o método de ensino anteriormente usado. Objetivo: Revisar os métodos de ensino feito por simuladores já publicados. Método: Trata-se de revisão narrativa realizada nas bases de dados PubMed e Scielo. A busca utilizou as seguintes palavras-chave: videocirurgia, ensino, simuladores, treinamento. Os critérios de inclusão compreenderam artigos de revisão e estudos experimentais, escritos em português e inglês e disponíveis em texto completo. Os trabalhos selecionados foram analisados com base nas tecnologias abordadas, perspectivas futuras e desafios mencionados. Resultado: Foram incluídos 28 artigos. Conclusão: Conforme mostram os resultados desta revisão sobre simuladores, os residentes depois de treinados, iniciariam o aprendizado de operações videolaparoscópicas com muito mais facilidade e segurança.

IMPACT OF VIDEOSURGERY TRAINING IN GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENTS WITH LOW FIDELITY SIMULATOR ADAPTED FROM THE FUNDAMENTS OF LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY (FLS) / IMPACTO DO TREINAMENTO EM VIDEOCIRURGIA DE MÉDICOS RESIDENTES DE CIRURGIA GERAL EM SIMULADOR DE BAIXA FIDELIDADE ADAPTADO DO PROGRAMA DE FUNDAMENTS OF LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY (FLS)

Introduction: Teaching in surgery must follow the evolution of medical techniques, procedures and technology. Since the 90s videosurgery has been developing and nowadays is the gold standard for many procedures in general surgery. As there are different characteristics from conventional surgery, residents need to practice in order to adapt to simulators. The world medical literature has established many training programs among them the Fundaments of laparoscopic Surgery (FLS). Evaluation of surgical technical abilities is a major tool for the residency programs. Objectives: To assess the effect of training acquiring skills of residents at first and second postgraduated level year (PGY1 and PGY2) before and after practice using low fidelity simulator based on tasks from FLS. Methods: A prospective study was conducted to determinate skills acquisition of residents at first and second postgraduated level year l (PGY1 and PGY2) before and after standardized practice using low fidelity simulator. Conclusions: There was a significant improve of the technical abilities reaching levels of improvement. Resident's performance was evident in the sample groups. First year residents (PGY1) achieved knowledge retention after training similar to the performance of second in the initial assessment, suggesting that the sequenced training carried out is equivalent to one year of practice in the general surgery residency program

Introdução: O ensino em cirurgia deve acompanhar a evolução das técnicas, procedimentos e tecnologia. Desde a década de 90 a videocirurgia vem se desenvolvendo e hoje é a primeira escolha para muitos procedimentos em cirugia geral. Com características diferentes da cirurgia convencional, os residentes treinaram em simuladores para adaptação. A literatura médica mundial já apresenta programas consagrados para treinamento entre eles os Fundamentos da Cirurgia Laparoscópica (FLS). A avaliação das habilidades técnicas cirúrgicas é uma ferramenta importante em programas de residência médica. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto do treinamento através de aquisição de habilidades dos médicos residentes em cirurgia geral antes e após treinamento teórico-prático em videocirurgia utilizando um simulador de baixa fidelidade baseado em exercícios do FLS. Método: Estudar de modo prospectivo a aquisição de habilidades de médicos residentes em cirurgia geral de primeiro e segundo ano (R1 e R2), antes e após realização de treinamento teórico-prático pré-definido. Conclusão: Houve melhora significativa com o treinamento atingindo níveis de conhecimento e aprimoramento semelhantes aos trabalhos da literatura mundial. A melhoria no desempenho dos residentes foi evidente em ambos os grupos da amostra. Aqueles do primeiro ano atingiram a concentração de conhecimento após o treinamento semelhante ao desempenho dos residentes de segundo ano na avaliação inicial, destacando que o treinamento sequenciado realizado equivale a um ano de prática no programa de residência geral de cirurgia

Non-invasive stress estimation in simulative endoscopy setting: literature review.

One of the most common stressors is so-called "occupational stress." It is defined as the sum of physical, mental and physiological responses to work in situations where the workload or stress associated with it intensifies for an extended period of time. It is a gradual process in which individual cognitive assessments of occupational stressors generate adverse health events and may lead to burnout. Since it has become a major problem in the medical field, studying, measuring and limiting it have been set as goals for the future.

Advancements and Challenges in IoT Simulators: A Comprehensive Review.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as an important concept, bridging the physical and digital worlds through interconnected devices. Although the idea of interconnected devices predates the term "Internet of Things", which was coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, the vision of a seamlessly integrated world of devices has been accelerated by advancements in wireless technologies, cost-effective computing, and the ubiquity of mobile devices. This study aims to provide an in-depth review of existing and emerging IoT simulators focusing on their capabilities and real-world applications, and discuss the current challenges and future trends in the IoT simulation area. Despite substantial research in the IoT simulation domain, many studies have a narrow focus, leaving a gap in comprehensive reviews that consider broader IoT development metrics, such as device mobility, energy models, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), and scalability. Notably, there is a lack of literature examining IoT simulators' capabilities in supporting renewable energy sources and their integration with Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) simulations. Our review seeks to address this gap, evaluating the ability of IoT simulators to simulate complex, large-scale IoT scenarios and meet specific developmental requirements, as well as examining the current challenges and future trends in the field of IoT simulation. Our systematic analysis has identified several significant gaps in the current literature. A primary concern is the lack of a generic simulator capable of effectively simulating various scenarios across different domains within the IoT environment. As a result, a comprehensive and versatile simulator is required to simulate the diverse scenarios occurring in IoT applications. Additionally, there is a notable gap in simulators that address specific security concerns, particularly battery depletion attacks, which are increasingly relevant in IoT systems. Furthermore, there is a need for further investigation and study regarding the integration of IoT simulators with traffic simulation for VANET environments. In addition, it is noteworthy that renewable energy sources are underrepresented in IoT simulations, despite an increasing global emphasis on environmental sustainability. As a result of these identified gaps, it is imperative to develop more advanced and adaptable IoT simulation tools that are designed to meet the multifaceted challenges and opportunities of the IoT domain.

Effectiveness of simulation models and digital alternatives in training ophthalmoscopy: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: Traditional direct ophthalmoscopy (TDO) is the oldest method of fundus examination; however, it has fallen out of use due to its technical difficulty and limitations to clinical utility, amidst the advent of potentially better options. A spectrum of new technologies may help in addressing the shortcomings of TDO: simulation mannequins with non-tracked TDO, simulation models with tracked TDO, and smartphone ophthalmoscopy (SFO). METHODOLOGY: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for all studies evaluating usage of simulation mannequins/models and SFO in ophthalmology education was performed, from inception till April 2023 with no language restriction. We ensured that we included all possible relevant articles by performing backward reference searching of included articles and published review articles. RESULTS: We reviewed studies on non-tracked TDO (n = 5), tracked TDO (n = 3) and SFO (n = 12). Non-tracked TDO and SFO were superior in training competency relative to control (TDO on real eyes). Intriguingly, tracked TDO was non superior to controls. SFO appears to enhance the learning effectiveness of ophthalmoscopy, due to real-time projection of the retina view, permitting instantaneous and targeted feedback. Learners reported improved ergonomics, including a wider field of view and more comfortable viewing distance. Retention of images and recordings permitted the audit of learning and paves the way for storage of such images in patients' electronic medical record and rapid dissemination for specialist referral. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone ophthalmoscopy (SFO) permits integration of both the practice and learning of ophthalmoscopy, and the auditing of both. These advantages over traditional methods (with simulation or otherwise) may lead to a paradigm shift in undergraduate ophthalmology education. However, the nascency of SFO necessitates preservation of traditional techniques to tide through this period of transition.

Haptics Vs Typodonts for Crown Preparation in Undergraduate Dental Student Education.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare students' subjective perceptions and objective results by comparing two methods of crown preparation: typodonts and haptics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-four second-year students were given instructions on crown preparation for the upper right second premolar. First on typodonts and then with haptics. They were given five minutes to familiarize with the artificial environment and then thirty minutes for the actual preparation. Finally, they completed a questionnaire about their experience. Their preparations were objectively compared by measuring the angle of total occlusal convergence-TOC on the typodonts and with haptics. RESULTS: Students reported that haptics can enhance the learning process and that they would use them for skill training in the future. Overall, their experience was rated as positive. The TOC of teeth prepared with haptics was significantly higher than those prepared with typodonts, but all values were within the acceptable range. CONCLUSION: Although students did not prefer haptics to typodonts, haptics appear to be a powerful tool in the educational process because it can be a complementary option to traditional methods at the preclinical level.

A Concept of a Plug-In Simulator for Increasing the Effectiveness of Rescue Operators When Using Hydrostatically Driven Manipulators.

The introduction of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) into the field of rescue operations is an ongoing process. New tools, such as UGV platforms and dedicated manipulators, provide new opportunities but also come with a steep learning curve. The best way to familiarize operators with new solutions are hands-on courses but their deployment is limited, mostly due to high costs and limited equipment numbers. An alternative way is to use simulators, which from the software side, resemble video games. With the recent expansion of the video game engine industry, currently developed software becomes easier to produce and maintain. This paper tries to answer the question of whether it is possible to develop a highly accurate simulator of a rescue and IED manipulator using a commercially available game engine solution. Firstly, the paper describes different types of simulators for robots currently available. Next, it provides an in-depth description of a plug-in simulator concept. Afterward, an example of a hydrostatic manipulator arm and its virtual representation is described alongside validation and evaluation methodologies. Additionally, the paper provides a set of metrics for an example rescue scenario. Finally, the paper describes research conducted in order to validate the representation accuracy of the developed simulator.

Utilization of and perceived need for simulators in clinical electrophysiology: results from an EHRA physician survey.

AIMS: Simulator training has been recently introduced in electrophysiology (EP) programmes in order to improve catheter manipulation skills without complication risks. The aim of this study is to survey the current use of EP simulators and the perceived need for these tools in clinical training and practice. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 20-item online questionnaire developed by the Scientific Initiatives Committee of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) in collaboration with EHRA Digital Committee was disseminated through the EHRA Scientific Research Network members, national EP groups, and social media platforms. Seventy-four respondents from 22 countries (73% males; 50% under 40 years old) completed the survey. Despite being perceived as useful among EP professionals (81%), EP simulators are rarely a part of the institutional cardiology training programme (20%) and only 18% of the respondents have an EP simulator at their institution. When available, simulators are mainly used in EP to train transseptal puncture, ablation, and mapping, followed by device implantation (cardiac resynchronization therapy [CRT], leadless, and conduction system pacing [CSP]). Almost all respondents (96%) believe that simulator programmes should be a part of the routine institutional EP training, hopefully developed by EHRA, in order to improve the efficacy and safety of EP procedures and in particular CSP 58%, CRT 42%, leadless pacing 38%, or complex arrhythmia ablations (VT 58%, PVI 45%, and PVC 42%). CONCLUSION: This current EHRA survey identified a perceived need but a lack of institutional simulator programme access for electrophysiologists who could benefit from it in order to speed up the learning curve process and reduce complications of complex EP procedures.

Observer-based HOFA predictive cooperative control for networked multi-agent systems under time-variant communication constraints.

This research focuses on a cooperative control problem for networked multi-agent systems (NMASs) under time-variant communication constraints (containing time-variant communication delays and time-variant data losses) in the forward and feedback channels. From the perspective of high-order fully actuated (HOFA) system theory, a HOFA system model is adopted to describe the NMAS, which is called the networked HOFA multi-agent system (NHOFAMAS). Because of complicated working scenarios over the network, the states of NMASs are immeasurable and the communication constraints are always present, such that an observer-based HOFA predictive control (OB-HOFAPC) method is designed to implement the cooperative control when existing the immeasurable states and time-variant communication constraints. In this method, a HOFA observer is established to estimate the immeasurable states for constructing a consensus control protocol. Then, an incremental prediction model (IPM) in a HOFA form is developed via a Diophantine equation to take the place of a reduced-order prediction model. Through this IPM, multi-step output ahead predictions are derived to optimize the cooperative control performance and compensate for time-variant communication constraints in real-time. The depth discussion gives a sufficient and necessary criterion to analyze the simultaneous consensus and stability for closed-loop NHOFAMASs. The capability and advantage of OB-HOFAPC method are illustrated via numerical simulation and experimental verification on a cooperative flying-around task of three air-bearing spacecraft simulators.

A review of the characteristics of rainfall simulators in soil erosion research studies.

Rainfall simulators are widely employed in soil erosion studies, and it is common for these simulators to be customized to address specific research questions. Nevertheless, there are certain characteristics that rainfall simulators should fulfill in the context of soil erosion studies. Rainfall simulators should simulate natural precipitation as accurately as possible. It is essential to monitor the size spectrum of generated raindrops, their maximum or terminal velocity, the uniformity of the surface distribution of rain, the kinetic energy and the overall intensity of the rain. This review aims to outline the characteristics and the corresponding measurement methods for rainfall simulators in soil erosion research. Electronic instruments like distrometers are considered more suitable for precise and comprehensive measurements than traditional instroments or literature based derivatives. By adhering to these characteristics, researchers can ensure the reliability and accuracy of their findings. Consequently, this overview serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to employ rainfall simulators in their investigations of soil erosion.

Random Lasers as Social Processes Simulators.

In this work, we suggest a quantum-like simulator concept to study social processes related to the solution of NP-hard problems. The simulator is based on the solaser model recently proposed by us in the framework of information cascade growth and echo chamber formation in social network communities. The simulator is connected with the random laser approach that we examine in the A and D-class (superradiant) laser limits. Novel network-enforced cooperativity parameters of decision-making agents, which may be measured as a result of the solaser simulation, are introduced and justified for social systems. The innovation diffusion in complex networks is discussed as one of the possible impacts of our proposal.

Approaches to Laparoscopic Training in Veterinary Medicine: A Review of Personalized Simulators.

Veterinary minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has experienced notable growth in recent years, yet the availability of specialized training tools remains limited and not readily accessible to practitioners worldwide. While borrowing simulators from human medicine practices suffices for acquiring fundamental laparoscopic skills, it proves inadequate when addressing procedure-specific nuances. Veterinary professionals are now taking steps to create simulators tailored to their patients, although the validation process can be time-consuming. Consequently, the availability of advanced laparoscopic simulators for veterinary training remains scarce. The present study aims to highlight custom-made simulators. A comprehensive search across five databases was conducted to uncover the simulators documented from 2010 to 2022. A total of five simulators emerged from this search, with four grounded in a canine model and only one in an equine model. These models underwent validation and were found to be effective in training surgeons for their designated tasks. The findings underscore a limited array of simulators, predominantly catering to two species (horses and dogs). Considering these findings, it is evident that further research is imperative to create laparoscopic simulators capable of facilitating advanced veterinary training. This would enable the continued evolution of surgical techniques across diverse species, including ruminants, small mammals, and non-mammalian animals.

SLAV-Sim: A Framework for Self-Learning Autonomous Vehicle Simulation.

With the advent of autonomous vehicles, sensors and algorithm testing have become crucial parts of the autonomous vehicle development cycle. Having access to real-world sensors and vehicles is a dream for researchers and small-scale original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) due to the software and hardware development life-cycle duration and high costs. Therefore, simulator-based virtual testing has gained traction over the years as the preferred testing method due to its low cost, efficiency, and effectiveness in executing a wide range of testing scenarios. Companies like ANSYS and NVIDIA have come up with robust simulators, and open-source simulators such as CARLA have also populated the market. However, there is a lack of lightweight and simple simulators catering to specific test cases. In this paper, we introduce the SLAV-Sim, a lightweight simulator that specifically trains the behaviour of a self-learning autonomous vehicle. This simulator has been created using the Unity engine and provides an end-to-end virtual testing framework for different reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms in a variety of scenarios using camera sensors and raycasts.

Method for Assessing the Influence of Phobic Stimuli in Virtual Simulators.

In the organizing of professional training, the assessment of the trainee's reaction and state in stressful situations is of great importance. Phobic reactions are a specific type of stress reaction that, however, is rarely taken into account when developing virtual simulators, and are a risk factor in the workplace. A method for evaluating the impact of various phobic stimuli on the quality of training is considered, which takes into account the time, accuracy, and speed of performing professional tasks, as well as the characteristics of electroencephalograms (the amplitude, power, coherence, Hurst exponent, and degree of interhemispheric asymmetry). To evaluate the impact of phobias during experimental research, participants in the experimental group performed exercises in different environments: under normal conditions and under the influence of acrophobic and arachnophobic stimuli. The participants were divided into subgroups using clustering algorithms and an expert neurologist. After that, a comparison of the subgroup metrics was carried out. The research conducted makes it possible to partially confirm our hypotheses about the negative impact of phobic effects on some participants in the experimental group. The relationship between the reaction to a phobia and the characteristics of brain activity was revealed, and the characteristics of the electroencephalogram signal were considered as the metrics for detecting a phobic reaction.

Vocal pain expression augmentation for a robopatient.

Abdominal palpation is one of the basic but important physical examination methods used by physicians. Visual, auditory, and haptic feedback from the patients are known to be the main sources of feedback they use in the diagnosis. However, learning to interpret this feedback and making accurate diagnosis require several years of training. Many abdominal palpation training simulators have been proposed to date, but very limited attempts have been reported in integrating vocal pain expressions into physical abdominal palpation simulators. Here, we present a vocal pain expression augmentation for a robopatient. The proposed robopatient is capable of providing real-time facial and vocal pain expressions based on the exerted palpation force and position on the abdominal phantom of the robopatient. A pilot study is conducted to test the proposed system, and we show the potential of integrating vocal pain expressions to the robopatient. The platform has also been tested by two clinical experts with prior experience in abdominal palpation. Their evaluations on functionality and suggestions for improvements are presented. We highlight the advantages of the proposed robopatient with real-time vocal and facial pain expressions as a controllable simulator platform for abdominal palpation training studies. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the proposed approach and suggest several future directions for improvements.

Training models and simulators for endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery: a systematic review.

Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery is a novel surgical technique requiring specific training. Different models and simulators have been recently suggested for it, but no systematic review is available. To provide a systematic and critical literature review and up-to-date description of the training models or simulators dedicated to endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery. A search was performed on PubMed and Scopus databases for articles published until February 2023; Google was also searched to document commercially available. For each model, the following features were recorded: training performed, tumor/arachnoid reproduction, assessment and validation, and cost. Of the 1199 retrieved articles, 101 were included in the final analysis. The described models can be subdivided into 5 major categories: (1) enhanced cadaveric heads; (2) animal models; (3) training artificial solutions, with increasing complexity (from "box-trainers" to multi-material, ct-based models); (4) training simulators, based on virtual or augmented reality; (5) Pre-operative planning models and simulators. Each available training model has specific advantages and limitations. Costs are high for cadaver-based solutions and vary significantly for the other solutions. Cheaper solutions seem useful only for the first stages of training. Most models do not provide a simulation of the sellar tumor, and a realistic simulation of the suprasellar arachnoid. Most artificial models do not provide a realistic and cost-efficient simulation of the most delicate and relatively common phase of surgery, i.e., tumor removal with arachnoid preservation; current research should optimize this to train future neurosurgical generations efficiently and safely.

Simulation training for pelvic examination: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Pelvic examination including vaginal digital examination and speculum inspection are crucial medical skills that are challenging to teach for both professors and students, because of its intimate nature. Consequently, education has shifted from a traditional approach to a simulation-enhanced education. This literature review summarizes the level of evidence for these not-so-new training modalities. METHODS: For this systematic review, the Pudmed database have been consulted using the following keywords: (Pelvic examination OR Vaginal examination) AND simulation. Eligible studies had to be published in French or English within the past 20 years and investigate simulation training for pelvic examination in the field of gynecology and obstetrics. For each paper, the following outcomes were analyzed: Competence, confidence and communication, and were classified according to the Kirkpatrick hierarchy. RESULTS: About competence, in initial training, one meta-analysis (9 studies of which 4 randomized studies) about pelvic examination teaching on procedural simulators have shown a significant benefit of simulation. One meta-analysis and one systematic review also demonstrated that Gynecological Teaching Associates (GTAs) teaching, who exist in Northern America and Scandinavian countries, was better that pelvic task trainers in terms of technical competence, and comfort. For the vaginal examination of women in labor, two randomized trials also showed a positive impact of pelvic task trainer on students' accuracy. CONCLUSION: Simulation-enhanced education of pelvic examination brings a significant benefit in comparison to a classic education without simulation in terms of competence, confidence and communication. GTAs have the best impact on competence and communication, but they do not exist currently in France. Hybrid simulation (a patient actor combined with a pelvic task trainer) could be a solution to teach both technical skills and communication.

Emulating Non-Hermitian Dynamics in a Finite Non-Dissipative Quantum System.

We discuss the emulation of non-Hermitian dynamics during a given time window using a low-dimensional quantum system coupled to a finite set of equidistant discrete states acting as an effective continuum. We first emulate the decay of an unstable state and map the quasi-continuum parameters, enabling the precise approximation of non-Hermitian dynamics. The limitations of this model, including in particular short- and long-time deviations, are extensively discussed. We then consider a driven two-level system and establish criteria for non-Hermitian dynamics emulation with a finite quasi-continuum. We quantitatively analyze the signatures of the finiteness of the effective continuum, addressing the possible emergence of non-Markovian behavior during the time interval considered. Finally, we investigate the emulation of dissipative dynamics using a finite quasi-continuum with a tailored density of states. We show through the example of a two-level system that such a continuum can reproduce non-Hermitian dynamics more efficiently than the usual equidistant quasi-continuum model.