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Background: The field of robotic-assisted surgery is rapidly growing as many robotic surgical devices are in development and about to enter the market. Currently, there is no universally accepted language for labeling the different robotic systems. To facilitate this communication, we created what is, to our knowledge, the first classification of surgical robotic technologies that organizes and classifies surgical robots used for endoscopy, laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. Methods: We compiled a list of surgical robots intended to be used for endoscopy, laparoscopy, and/or thoracoscopy by searching United States, European, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korean databases for approved devices. Devices showcased at the 2023 Annual Meeting for the Society of Robotic Surgery were added. We also systematically reviewed the literature for any existing surgical robotic classifications or categorizations. We then created a multidisciplinary committee of 8 surgeons and 2 engineers to construct a proposed classification of the devices included in our search. Results: We identified 40 robotic surgery systems intended to be used for endoscopy, laparoscopy and/or thoracoscopy. The proposed classification organizes robotic devices with regard to architecture, port design, and configuration (modular carts, multi-arm integrated cart, table-attachable or arm-table integration). Conclusion: This 3-level classification of robotic surgical devices used for endoscopy, laparoscopy and/or thoracoscopy describes important characteristics of robotic devices systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational institutions have been among the most active social organisations responding to and facilitating processes associated with globalisation. This has primarily been undertaken through the attempts of schools and universities to 'internationalise' their student intake, staffing, curricula, research, and assessment systems. Amongst the many benefits associated with the promotion of 'internationalisation' is that it will provide students with attributes such as global citizenship, skills or competencies that will contribute to improving tolerance, respect and harmony between nations and cultures. Various nations and global agencies actively promote such goals and global citizenship is included in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Positioned as a response to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has developed a metric to compare the 'global competency' of 15-year-old pupils, which was incorporated into the Programme for International Student Assessment 2018. We analyse the rationales for this decision, the conception of 'global competence' adopted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and how these have changed since its inception in 2013. We also explore how it will be measured and how the organisation deals with what it describes as 'the most salient challenge affecting PISA'. We argue: (i) the official conception of 'global competence' finally adopted was strongly influenced by the organisation's quest to position itself as the agency responsible for monitoring progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, and then amended to match what could be easily measured; and (ii) although the organisation presents its global competencies using a humanitarian discourse, it is framed by its economic mission.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a neoplasm arising from mesothelial cells lining the pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial cavities. Over 20 million people in the US are at risk of developing MM due to asbestos exposure. MM mortality rates are estimated to increase by 5-10% per year in most industrialized countries until about 2020. The incidence of MM in men has continued to rise during the past 50 years, while the incidence in women appears largely unchanged. It is estimated that about 50-80% of pleural MM in men and 20-30% in women developed in individuals whose history indicates asbestos exposure(s) above that expected from most background settings. While rare for women, about 30% of peritoneal mesothelioma in men has been associated with exposure to asbestos. Erionite is a potent carcinogenic mineral fiber capable of causing both pleural and peritoneal MM. Since erionite is considerably less widespread than asbestos, the number of MM cases associated with erionite exposure is smaller. Asbestos induces DNA alterations mostly by inducing mesothelial cells and reactive macrophages to secrete mutagenic oxygen and nitrogen species. In addition, asbestos carcinogenesis is linked to the chronic inflammatory process caused by the deposition of a sufficient number of asbestos fibers and the consequent release of pro-inflammatory molecules, especially HMGB-1, the master switch that starts the inflammatory process, and TNF-alpha by macrophages and mesothelial cells. Genetic predisposition, radiation exposure and viral infection are co-factors that can alone or together with asbestos and erionite cause MM. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 44-58, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine pediatric dentists' participation in the California Medicaid program and investigate barriers to participation. Methods: A 24-question mail-in survey with a follow-up was sent to all pediatric dentists in California with questions including demographics, Medicaid participation, and barriers to participation. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Pediatric dentists returned 364 useable mail-in surveys for a response rate of 70%. Forty-five percent participated in the Medicaid program, one third of which would accept all patients and two thirds of which placed some restriction on their participation. Twenty-five percent of respondents had at least 10% Medicaid patients in their practice, and 25% accepted 6 or more new Medicaid patients per month. Dentists in rural areas were significantly more likely than those in urban or suburban areas to accept a new Medicaid patient (P<.05). Eighty-nine percent of all respondents reported low fees and 82% reported broken appointments as important reasons for not participating or limiting participation. Conclusions: Participation of California pediatric dentists in Medicaid is low compared to other states that have participation studies. Pediatric dentists in rural areas are most likely to participate. Among the reasons that contribute to California dentists not participating in the Medicaid program, the major ones appear to be low fees, broken appointments, and denial of payment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses issues arising from the use of the Mixed Initiative Activity Plan Generator (MAPGEN) as an activity tool in the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration's Mars Exploration Rover mission. Activity planning tool and planning and scheduling system combined under MAPGEN; Mission objectives; MAPGEN system design and functionality; Application in tactical planning.

Purpose: The National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) began in 2007 with a goal of expanding cancer research and delivering quality care in communities. The NCCCP Quality of Care (QoC) Subcommittee was charged with developing and improving the quality of multidisciplinary care. An assessment tool with nine key elements relevant to MDC structure and operations was developed. Methods: Fourteen NCCCP sites reported multidisciplinary care assessments for lung, breast, and colorectal cancer in June 2010, June 2011, and June 2012 using an online reporting tool. Each site evaluated their level of maturity (level 1 no multidisciplinary care, level 5 highly integrated multidisciplinary care) in nine elements integral to multidisciplinary care. Thematic analysis of open-ended qualitative responses was also conducted. Results: The proportion of sites that reported level 3 or greater on the assessment tool was tabulated at each time point. For all tumor types, sites that reached this level increased in six elements: case planning, clinical trials, integration of care coordination, physician engagement, quality improvement, and treatment team integration. Factors that enabled improvement included increasing organizational support, ensuring appropriate physician participation, increasing patient navigation, increasing participation in national quality initiatives, targeting genetics referrals, engaging primary care providers, and integrating clinical trial staff. Conclusions: Maturation of multidisciplinary care reflected focused work of the NCCCP QoC Subcommittee. Working group efforts in patient navigation, genetics, and physician conditions of participation were evident in improved multidisciplinary care performance for three common malignancies. This work provides a blueprint for health systems that wish to incorporate prospective multidisciplinary care into their cancer programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]