Clark, Tyler, “White Rock Township and White Rock City, Republic County,” Chapman Center Research... more Clark, Tyler, “White Rock Township and White Rock City, Republic County,” Chapman Center Research Collections, https://ccrsresearchcollections.omeka.net/items/show/6.The White Rock Valley in Republic County saw Indian violence from both the Cheyenne and the Pawnee. This essay traces the founding of the town of White Rock City and its decline during the railroad years. The vital early years of the town are connected intimately to many Native American stories and records. The author discusses settler perceptions that they eventually "outlasted the Indians.
BackgroundPeer review in Team-based learning (TBL) exists for three key reasons: to promote refle... more BackgroundPeer review in Team-based learning (TBL) exists for three key reasons: to promote reflection on individual behaviours; provide opportunities to develop professional skills; and prevent ‘free riders’ who fail to contribute effectively to team discussions. A well-developed process that engages students is needed. However, evidence suggests it remains a difficult task to effectively incorporate into TBL. The purpose of this study was to assess medical students’ ability to provide written feedback to their peers in TBL, and to explore students’ perception of the process, using the conceptual framework of Biggs ‘3P model’.MethodsYear 2 students (n = 255) participated in peer review twice during 2019. We evaluated the quality of feedback using a theoretically derived rubric, and undertook a qualitative analysis of focus group data to seek explanations for feedback behaviors.ResultsStudents demonstrated reasonable ability to provide positive feedback, but were less prepared to id...
In this paper, we have studied QNM modes and absorption cross-sections of Born–Infeld–de Sitter b... more In this paper, we have studied QNM modes and absorption cross-sections of Born–Infeld–de Sitter black holes. WKB approximation is employed to compute the QNM modes of massless scalar fields. We have also used null geodesics to compute quasinormal modes in the eikonal approximation. In the eikonal limit, QNMs of black holes are determined by the parameters of the circular null geodesics. Unstable circular null orbits are derived from the effective metric which is obeyed by light rays under the influence of a nonlinear electromagnetic field. Comparison is shown with the QNM of the linear electromagnetic counterpart, the Reissner–Nordström black hole. Furthermore, the null geodesics are employed to compute the absorption cross-sections in the high frequency limit via the sinc approximation.
Long-term stability of DNA structures in a cell is critical to sustaining life. The DNA structure... more Long-term stability of DNA structures in a cell is critical to sustaining life. The DNA structures can be degraded biologically (e.g. enzymes), chemically (e.g. drugs), and physically (e.g. thermal agitation process) with time. The DNA structures are maintained by being regenerated and/or being recovered by proteins within a cell. However, even though it is important, it is difficult to observe the time-evolution of DNA structures for extended periods at a molecular resolution. Here, we observed the time evolution of DNA structures for two months, in order to understand the long term stability of DNA structures. For this study, we used purified plasmid DNA molecules extracted from Escherichia coli (E-coli) bacteria as a sample. We also employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe the plasmid DNA structures at a molecular resolution. The purified plasmid DNA molecules were diluted with pure water, deposited on a mica surface and observed by an AFM on a regular basis in an ambient environment for two
Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by the loss of lean body tissue, often including involuntary... more Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by the loss of lean body tissue, often including involuntary weight loss, accompanied by increased metabolic and proinflammatory cytokine activity. It is distinct from mere weight loss due to anorexia and from sarcopenia, which is characterized by the loss of lean body tissue replaced by fat mass with little or no resulting weight loss. Cachexia occurs in patients with chronic illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The pore-forming toxin lysenin self-assembles large and stable conductance channels in natural an... more The pore-forming toxin lysenin self-assembles large and stable conductance channels in natural and artificial lipid membranes. The lysenin channels exhibit unique regulation capabilities, which open unexplored possibilities to control the transport of ions and molecules through artificial and natural lipid membranes. Our investigations demonstrate that the positively charged polymers polyethyleneimine and chitosan inhibit the conducting properties of lysenin channels inserted into planar lipid membranes. The preservation of the inhibitory effect following addition of charged polymers on either side of the supporting membrane suggests the presence of multiple binding sites within the channel's structure and a multistep inhibition mechanism that involves binding and trapping. Complete blockage of the binding sites with divalent cations prevents further inhibition in conductance induced by the addition of cationic polymers and supports the hypothesis that the binding sites are iden...
Goals:. Keep LHS operational during development 2. Turn LHS into a modern educational facility 3.... more Goals:. Keep LHS operational during development 2. Turn LHS into a modern educational facility 3. Move the entrance of LHS to 8th and Salmon to create a sense of place and to utilize Goose Hollow MAX stop 4. Maximize development potential of the site 5. Build socially beneficial housing, as the market will bear, leveraging a federally insured mortgage program 6. Minimize up-front costs and operating expenses for parking 7. Allow the eastern half of the site to generate additional funding 8. Capitalize on area parking shortages with rare superblock floorplate advantages 9. Convert the site into a consistent school district revenue source KeyDecisions:. Retain LHS on site 2. Retain Track and Field on site 3. Keep LHS academic facilities operational during development 4. Use eastern half for housing FundingMechanisms: Two assets vital to the financial success of the program are the ability to obtain FHA 22(d)(3) mortgage funds for the residential portion, along with Portland Public Schools' ability to issue tax-exempt bonds. The residential mortgage offers very favorable terms (00% loan-to-cost, 6.9% interest , 40 year term, .05 debt coverage ratio) and is fully transferable. General obligation bond financing for the non-residential public components covers the site's full equity requirement of $30 million, requiring $9 million of tax revenue to be allocated to bond debt service. The deal structure further couples this favorable financing with preservation of cash flows due to tax implications, as the owner will remain a public, tax-exempt entity. For a bond commitment roughly equivalent to that needed for a traditional school alone, PPS gains an additional cash flow income stream worth $30 million, an innovative high school drawing national attention, ,682 socially beneficial residential units, ,678 parking stalls and complementary retail space, all under long-term public ownership increasing in value.
The Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea, an abundant but declining petrel, is one of many seabird spe... more The Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea, an abundant but declining petrel, is one of many seabird species that construct breeding burrows, presumably because these confer protection from predators and the elements. Little is known about the causes of variation in Sooty Shearwater burrow architecture, which can differ markedly both within and between breeding sites. We hypothesize that burrow architecture varies in response to habitat type and competition for space. To address these hypotheses, we recorded Sooty Shearwater burrow dimensions on Kidney Island, the largest Sooty Shearwater colony in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic, and modelled these as functions of burrow density (a proxy for competition) and habitat indices. Our models suggest that Sooty Shearwaters burrow further underground in response to competition for breeding space, and that soil underlying dense tussac grass Poa flabellata is more easily excavated than other substrates, indicating how vegetation restoration could aid the conservation of this species.
All cell membranes are packed with proteins. The ability to investigate the regulatory mechanisms... more All cell membranes are packed with proteins. The ability to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of protein channels in experimental conditions mimicking their congested native environment is crucial for understanding the environmental physicochemical cues that may fundamentally contribute to their functionality in natural membranes. Here we report on investigations of the voltage-induced gating of lysenin channels in congested conditions experimentally achieved by increasing the number of channels inserted into planar lipid membranes. Typical electrophysiology measurements reveal congestion-induced changes to the voltage-induced gating, manifested as a significant reduction of the response to external voltage stimuli. Furthermore, we demonstrate a similar diminished voltage sensitivity for smaller populations of channels by reducing the amount of sphingomyelin in the membrane. Given lysenin's preference for targeting lipid rafts, this result indicates the potential role of the heterogeneous organization of the membrane in modulating channel functionality. Our work indicates that local congestion within membranes may alter the energy landscape and the kinetics of conformational changes of lysenin channels in response to voltage stimuli. This level of understanding may be extended to better characterize the role of the specific membrane environment in modulating the biological functionality of protein channels in health and disease.
We give an algorithm to find the number T cvx (n) of convex topologies on a totally ordered set X... more We give an algorithm to find the number T cvx (n) of convex topologies on a totally ordered set X with n elements, and present these numbers for n ≤ 10.
We have studied quasinormal modes of scalar perturbations of a black hole in massive gravity. The... more We have studied quasinormal modes of scalar perturbations of a black hole in massive gravity. The parameters of the theory, such as the mass of the black hole, the scalar charge of the black hole and the spherical harmonic index is varied to see how the corresponding quasinormal frequencies change. We have also studied the massive scalar field perturbations. Most of the work is done using WKB approach while sections are devoted to compute quasinormal modes via the unstable null geodesics approach and the Pöschl-Teller approximation. Comparisons are done with the Schwarzschild black hole.
The role of the chairman of a surgery department is critical in academic surgery. However, little... more The role of the chairman of a surgery department is critical in academic surgery. However, little is known about the variability of job responsibilities. Objective: To evaluate chairmen's responsibilities, methods of support, determinants of job performance success, and concerns.
Background: Little is known about the technical adequacy of portfolios in reporting multiple comp... more Background: Little is known about the technical adequacy of portfolios in reporting multiple complex academic and performance-based assessments. We explored, first, the influencing factors on the precision of scoring within a programmatic assessment of student learning outcomes within an integrated clinical placement. Second, the degree to which validity evidence supported interpretation of student scores. Methods: Within generalisability theory, we estimated the contribution that each wanted factor (i.e. student capability) and unwanted factors (e.g. the impact of assessors) made to the variation in portfolio task scores. Relative and absolute standard errors of measurement provided a confidence interval around a predetermined pass/fail standard for all six tasks. Validity evidence was sought through demonstrating the internal consistency of the portfolio and exploring the relationship of student scores with clinical experience. Results: The mean portfolio mark for 257 students, across 372 raters, based on six tasks, was 75.56 (SD, 6.68). For a single student on one assessment task, 11% of the variance in scores was due to true differences in student capability. The most significant interaction was context specificity (49%), the tendency for one student to engage with one task and not engage with another task. Rater subjectivity was 29%. An absolute standard error of measurement of 4.74%, gave a 95% CI of +/-9.30%, and a 68% CI of +/-4.74% around a pass/fail score of 57%. Construct validity was supported by demonstration of an assessment framework, the internal consistency of the portfolio tasks, and higher scores for students who did the clinical placement later in the academic year. Conclusion: A portfolio designed as a programmatic assessment of an integrated clinical placement has sufficient evidence of validity to support a specific interpretation of student scores around passing a clinical placement. It has modest precision in assessing students' achievement of a competency standard. There were identifiable areas for reducing measurement error and providing more certainty around decision-making. Reducing the measurement error would require engaging with the student body on the value of the tasks, more focussed academic and clinical supervisor training, and revisiting the rubric of the assessment in the light of feedback.
Background: Entry into specialty training was determined by a National Assessment Centre (NAC) ap... more Background: Entry into specialty training was determined by a National Assessment Centre (NAC) approach using a combination of a behavioural Multiple-Mini-Interview (MMI) and a written Situational Judgement Test (SJT). We wanted to know if interviewers could make reliable and valid decisions about the non-cognitive characteristics of candidates with the purpose of selecting them into general practice specialty training using the MMI. Second, we explored the concurrent validity of the MMI with the SJT. Methods: A variance components analysis estimated the reliability and sources of measurement error. Further modelling estimated the optimal configurations for future MMI iterations. We calculated the relationship of the MMI with the SJT. Results: Data were available from 1382 candidates, 254 interviewers, six MMI questions, five alternate forms of a 50-item SJT, and 11 assessment centres. For a single MMI question and one assessor, 28% of the variance between scores was due to candidate-to-candidate variation. Interviewer subjectivity, in particular the varying views that interviewer had for particular candidates accounted for 40% of the variance in scores. The generalisability coefficient for a six question MMI was 0.7; to achieve 0.8 would require ten questions. A disattenuated correlation with the SJT (r = 0.35), and in particular a raw score correlation with the subdomain related to clinical knowledge (r = 0.25) demonstrated evidence for construct and concurrent validity. Less than two per cent of candidates would have failed the MMI. Conclusion: The MMI is a moderately reliable method of assessment in the context of a National Assessment Centre approach. The largest source of error relates to aspects of interviewer subjectivity, suggesting enhanced interviewer training would be beneficial. MMIs need to be sufficiently long for precise comparison for ranking purposes. In order to justify long term sustainable use of the MMI in a postgraduate assessment centre approach, more theoretical work is required to understand how written and performance based test of non-cognitive attributes can be combined, in a way that achieves acceptable generalizability, and has validity.
o encourage the development of a sustainable rural medical workforce, the Australian Government p... more o encourage the development of a sustainable rural medical workforce, the Australian Government provides incentives for Australian medical schools to recruit students with a rural background and funds rural clinical schools to allow rural exposure via extended placements to students of all backgrounds. Both recruitment of rural students and uptake of extended rural placements (ERPs) have been shown to be associated with choosing a rural career. 1-4 We aimed to compare the apparent association of these two factors on students' expressed intentions to undertake rural internships and their acceptance of rural internships after finishing medical school. The Medical Schools Outcomes Database (MSOD) and Longitudinal Tracking Project was established by the Deans of Australian and New Zealand medical schools in 2005. 5-6 For the MSOD, all Australian and New Zealand medical students are asked to complete a commencing medical students questionnaire on entry and an exit questionnaire on leaving their university courses. Among other things, the questionnaires cover career aspirations, including the types of setting in which students aspire to practise. The MSOD also follows medical students' postgraduate trajectories. Our comparison used longitudinal data from three cohorts of students in the Sydney Medical Program (SMP), the 4year graduate-entry program of the University of Sydney. Methods We analysed MSOD data 5 for the student cohorts that commenced the
Clark, Tyler, “White Rock Township and White Rock City, Republic County,” Chapman Center Research... more Clark, Tyler, “White Rock Township and White Rock City, Republic County,” Chapman Center Research Collections, https://ccrsresearchcollections.omeka.net/items/show/6.The White Rock Valley in Republic County saw Indian violence from both the Cheyenne and the Pawnee. This essay traces the founding of the town of White Rock City and its decline during the railroad years. The vital early years of the town are connected intimately to many Native American stories and records. The author discusses settler perceptions that they eventually "outlasted the Indians.
BackgroundPeer review in Team-based learning (TBL) exists for three key reasons: to promote refle... more BackgroundPeer review in Team-based learning (TBL) exists for three key reasons: to promote reflection on individual behaviours; provide opportunities to develop professional skills; and prevent ‘free riders’ who fail to contribute effectively to team discussions. A well-developed process that engages students is needed. However, evidence suggests it remains a difficult task to effectively incorporate into TBL. The purpose of this study was to assess medical students’ ability to provide written feedback to their peers in TBL, and to explore students’ perception of the process, using the conceptual framework of Biggs ‘3P model’.MethodsYear 2 students (n = 255) participated in peer review twice during 2019. We evaluated the quality of feedback using a theoretically derived rubric, and undertook a qualitative analysis of focus group data to seek explanations for feedback behaviors.ResultsStudents demonstrated reasonable ability to provide positive feedback, but were less prepared to id...
In this paper, we have studied QNM modes and absorption cross-sections of Born–Infeld–de Sitter b... more In this paper, we have studied QNM modes and absorption cross-sections of Born–Infeld–de Sitter black holes. WKB approximation is employed to compute the QNM modes of massless scalar fields. We have also used null geodesics to compute quasinormal modes in the eikonal approximation. In the eikonal limit, QNMs of black holes are determined by the parameters of the circular null geodesics. Unstable circular null orbits are derived from the effective metric which is obeyed by light rays under the influence of a nonlinear electromagnetic field. Comparison is shown with the QNM of the linear electromagnetic counterpart, the Reissner–Nordström black hole. Furthermore, the null geodesics are employed to compute the absorption cross-sections in the high frequency limit via the sinc approximation.
Long-term stability of DNA structures in a cell is critical to sustaining life. The DNA structure... more Long-term stability of DNA structures in a cell is critical to sustaining life. The DNA structures can be degraded biologically (e.g. enzymes), chemically (e.g. drugs), and physically (e.g. thermal agitation process) with time. The DNA structures are maintained by being regenerated and/or being recovered by proteins within a cell. However, even though it is important, it is difficult to observe the time-evolution of DNA structures for extended periods at a molecular resolution. Here, we observed the time evolution of DNA structures for two months, in order to understand the long term stability of DNA structures. For this study, we used purified plasmid DNA molecules extracted from Escherichia coli (E-coli) bacteria as a sample. We also employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe the plasmid DNA structures at a molecular resolution. The purified plasmid DNA molecules were diluted with pure water, deposited on a mica surface and observed by an AFM on a regular basis in an ambient environment for two
Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by the loss of lean body tissue, often including involuntary... more Cachexia is a syndrome characterized by the loss of lean body tissue, often including involuntary weight loss, accompanied by increased metabolic and proinflammatory cytokine activity. It is distinct from mere weight loss due to anorexia and from sarcopenia, which is characterized by the loss of lean body tissue replaced by fat mass with little or no resulting weight loss. Cachexia occurs in patients with chronic illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The pore-forming toxin lysenin self-assembles large and stable conductance channels in natural an... more The pore-forming toxin lysenin self-assembles large and stable conductance channels in natural and artificial lipid membranes. The lysenin channels exhibit unique regulation capabilities, which open unexplored possibilities to control the transport of ions and molecules through artificial and natural lipid membranes. Our investigations demonstrate that the positively charged polymers polyethyleneimine and chitosan inhibit the conducting properties of lysenin channels inserted into planar lipid membranes. The preservation of the inhibitory effect following addition of charged polymers on either side of the supporting membrane suggests the presence of multiple binding sites within the channel's structure and a multistep inhibition mechanism that involves binding and trapping. Complete blockage of the binding sites with divalent cations prevents further inhibition in conductance induced by the addition of cationic polymers and supports the hypothesis that the binding sites are iden...
Goals:. Keep LHS operational during development 2. Turn LHS into a modern educational facility 3.... more Goals:. Keep LHS operational during development 2. Turn LHS into a modern educational facility 3. Move the entrance of LHS to 8th and Salmon to create a sense of place and to utilize Goose Hollow MAX stop 4. Maximize development potential of the site 5. Build socially beneficial housing, as the market will bear, leveraging a federally insured mortgage program 6. Minimize up-front costs and operating expenses for parking 7. Allow the eastern half of the site to generate additional funding 8. Capitalize on area parking shortages with rare superblock floorplate advantages 9. Convert the site into a consistent school district revenue source KeyDecisions:. Retain LHS on site 2. Retain Track and Field on site 3. Keep LHS academic facilities operational during development 4. Use eastern half for housing FundingMechanisms: Two assets vital to the financial success of the program are the ability to obtain FHA 22(d)(3) mortgage funds for the residential portion, along with Portland Public Schools' ability to issue tax-exempt bonds. The residential mortgage offers very favorable terms (00% loan-to-cost, 6.9% interest , 40 year term, .05 debt coverage ratio) and is fully transferable. General obligation bond financing for the non-residential public components covers the site's full equity requirement of $30 million, requiring $9 million of tax revenue to be allocated to bond debt service. The deal structure further couples this favorable financing with preservation of cash flows due to tax implications, as the owner will remain a public, tax-exempt entity. For a bond commitment roughly equivalent to that needed for a traditional school alone, PPS gains an additional cash flow income stream worth $30 million, an innovative high school drawing national attention, ,682 socially beneficial residential units, ,678 parking stalls and complementary retail space, all under long-term public ownership increasing in value.
The Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea, an abundant but declining petrel, is one of many seabird spe... more The Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea, an abundant but declining petrel, is one of many seabird species that construct breeding burrows, presumably because these confer protection from predators and the elements. Little is known about the causes of variation in Sooty Shearwater burrow architecture, which can differ markedly both within and between breeding sites. We hypothesize that burrow architecture varies in response to habitat type and competition for space. To address these hypotheses, we recorded Sooty Shearwater burrow dimensions on Kidney Island, the largest Sooty Shearwater colony in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic, and modelled these as functions of burrow density (a proxy for competition) and habitat indices. Our models suggest that Sooty Shearwaters burrow further underground in response to competition for breeding space, and that soil underlying dense tussac grass Poa flabellata is more easily excavated than other substrates, indicating how vegetation restoration could aid the conservation of this species.
All cell membranes are packed with proteins. The ability to investigate the regulatory mechanisms... more All cell membranes are packed with proteins. The ability to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of protein channels in experimental conditions mimicking their congested native environment is crucial for understanding the environmental physicochemical cues that may fundamentally contribute to their functionality in natural membranes. Here we report on investigations of the voltage-induced gating of lysenin channels in congested conditions experimentally achieved by increasing the number of channels inserted into planar lipid membranes. Typical electrophysiology measurements reveal congestion-induced changes to the voltage-induced gating, manifested as a significant reduction of the response to external voltage stimuli. Furthermore, we demonstrate a similar diminished voltage sensitivity for smaller populations of channels by reducing the amount of sphingomyelin in the membrane. Given lysenin's preference for targeting lipid rafts, this result indicates the potential role of the heterogeneous organization of the membrane in modulating channel functionality. Our work indicates that local congestion within membranes may alter the energy landscape and the kinetics of conformational changes of lysenin channels in response to voltage stimuli. This level of understanding may be extended to better characterize the role of the specific membrane environment in modulating the biological functionality of protein channels in health and disease.
We give an algorithm to find the number T cvx (n) of convex topologies on a totally ordered set X... more We give an algorithm to find the number T cvx (n) of convex topologies on a totally ordered set X with n elements, and present these numbers for n ≤ 10.
We have studied quasinormal modes of scalar perturbations of a black hole in massive gravity. The... more We have studied quasinormal modes of scalar perturbations of a black hole in massive gravity. The parameters of the theory, such as the mass of the black hole, the scalar charge of the black hole and the spherical harmonic index is varied to see how the corresponding quasinormal frequencies change. We have also studied the massive scalar field perturbations. Most of the work is done using WKB approach while sections are devoted to compute quasinormal modes via the unstable null geodesics approach and the Pöschl-Teller approximation. Comparisons are done with the Schwarzschild black hole.
The role of the chairman of a surgery department is critical in academic surgery. However, little... more The role of the chairman of a surgery department is critical in academic surgery. However, little is known about the variability of job responsibilities. Objective: To evaluate chairmen's responsibilities, methods of support, determinants of job performance success, and concerns.
Background: Little is known about the technical adequacy of portfolios in reporting multiple comp... more Background: Little is known about the technical adequacy of portfolios in reporting multiple complex academic and performance-based assessments. We explored, first, the influencing factors on the precision of scoring within a programmatic assessment of student learning outcomes within an integrated clinical placement. Second, the degree to which validity evidence supported interpretation of student scores. Methods: Within generalisability theory, we estimated the contribution that each wanted factor (i.e. student capability) and unwanted factors (e.g. the impact of assessors) made to the variation in portfolio task scores. Relative and absolute standard errors of measurement provided a confidence interval around a predetermined pass/fail standard for all six tasks. Validity evidence was sought through demonstrating the internal consistency of the portfolio and exploring the relationship of student scores with clinical experience. Results: The mean portfolio mark for 257 students, across 372 raters, based on six tasks, was 75.56 (SD, 6.68). For a single student on one assessment task, 11% of the variance in scores was due to true differences in student capability. The most significant interaction was context specificity (49%), the tendency for one student to engage with one task and not engage with another task. Rater subjectivity was 29%. An absolute standard error of measurement of 4.74%, gave a 95% CI of +/-9.30%, and a 68% CI of +/-4.74% around a pass/fail score of 57%. Construct validity was supported by demonstration of an assessment framework, the internal consistency of the portfolio tasks, and higher scores for students who did the clinical placement later in the academic year. Conclusion: A portfolio designed as a programmatic assessment of an integrated clinical placement has sufficient evidence of validity to support a specific interpretation of student scores around passing a clinical placement. It has modest precision in assessing students' achievement of a competency standard. There were identifiable areas for reducing measurement error and providing more certainty around decision-making. Reducing the measurement error would require engaging with the student body on the value of the tasks, more focussed academic and clinical supervisor training, and revisiting the rubric of the assessment in the light of feedback.
Background: Entry into specialty training was determined by a National Assessment Centre (NAC) ap... more Background: Entry into specialty training was determined by a National Assessment Centre (NAC) approach using a combination of a behavioural Multiple-Mini-Interview (MMI) and a written Situational Judgement Test (SJT). We wanted to know if interviewers could make reliable and valid decisions about the non-cognitive characteristics of candidates with the purpose of selecting them into general practice specialty training using the MMI. Second, we explored the concurrent validity of the MMI with the SJT. Methods: A variance components analysis estimated the reliability and sources of measurement error. Further modelling estimated the optimal configurations for future MMI iterations. We calculated the relationship of the MMI with the SJT. Results: Data were available from 1382 candidates, 254 interviewers, six MMI questions, five alternate forms of a 50-item SJT, and 11 assessment centres. For a single MMI question and one assessor, 28% of the variance between scores was due to candidate-to-candidate variation. Interviewer subjectivity, in particular the varying views that interviewer had for particular candidates accounted for 40% of the variance in scores. The generalisability coefficient for a six question MMI was 0.7; to achieve 0.8 would require ten questions. A disattenuated correlation with the SJT (r = 0.35), and in particular a raw score correlation with the subdomain related to clinical knowledge (r = 0.25) demonstrated evidence for construct and concurrent validity. Less than two per cent of candidates would have failed the MMI. Conclusion: The MMI is a moderately reliable method of assessment in the context of a National Assessment Centre approach. The largest source of error relates to aspects of interviewer subjectivity, suggesting enhanced interviewer training would be beneficial. MMIs need to be sufficiently long for precise comparison for ranking purposes. In order to justify long term sustainable use of the MMI in a postgraduate assessment centre approach, more theoretical work is required to understand how written and performance based test of non-cognitive attributes can be combined, in a way that achieves acceptable generalizability, and has validity.
o encourage the development of a sustainable rural medical workforce, the Australian Government p... more o encourage the development of a sustainable rural medical workforce, the Australian Government provides incentives for Australian medical schools to recruit students with a rural background and funds rural clinical schools to allow rural exposure via extended placements to students of all backgrounds. Both recruitment of rural students and uptake of extended rural placements (ERPs) have been shown to be associated with choosing a rural career. 1-4 We aimed to compare the apparent association of these two factors on students' expressed intentions to undertake rural internships and their acceptance of rural internships after finishing medical school. The Medical Schools Outcomes Database (MSOD) and Longitudinal Tracking Project was established by the Deans of Australian and New Zealand medical schools in 2005. 5-6 For the MSOD, all Australian and New Zealand medical students are asked to complete a commencing medical students questionnaire on entry and an exit questionnaire on leaving their university courses. Among other things, the questionnaires cover career aspirations, including the types of setting in which students aspire to practise. The MSOD also follows medical students' postgraduate trajectories. Our comparison used longitudinal data from three cohorts of students in the Sydney Medical Program (SMP), the 4year graduate-entry program of the University of Sydney. Methods We analysed MSOD data 5 for the student cohorts that commenced the
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