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Background Molding competent clinicians capable of applying ethics principles in their practice is a challenging task, compounded by wide variations in the teaching and assessment of ethics in the postgraduate setting. Despite these differences, ethics training programs should recognise that the transition from medical students to healthcare professionals entails a longitudinal process where ethics knowledge, skills and identity continue to build and deepen over time with clinical exposure. A systematic scoping review is proposed to analyse current postgraduate medical ethics training and assessment programs in peer-reviewed literature to guide the development of a local physician training curriculum. Methods With a constructivist perspective and relativist lens, this systematic scoping review on postgraduate medical ethics training and assessment will adopt the Systematic Evidence Based Approach (SEBA) to create a transparent and reproducible review. Results The first search involving the teaching of ethics yielded 7669 abstracts with 573 full text articles evaluated and 66 articles included. The second search involving the assessment of ethics identified 9919 abstracts with 333 full text articles reviewed and 29 articles included. The themes identified from the two searches were the goals and objectives, content, pedagogy, enabling and limiting factors of teaching ethics and assessment modalities used. Despite inherent disparities in ethics training programs, they provide a platform for learners to apply knowledge, translating it to skill and eventually becoming part of the identity of the learner. Illustrating the longitudinal nature of ethics training, the spiral curriculum seamlessly integrates and fortifies prevailing ethical knowledge acquired in medical school with the layering of new specialty, clinical and research specific content in professional practice. Various assessment methods are employed with special mention of portfolios as a longitudinal assessment modality that showcase the impact of ethics training on the development of professional identity formation (PIF). Conclusions Our systematic scoping review has elicited key learning points in the teaching and assessment of ethics in the postgraduate setting. However, more research needs to be done on establishing Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA)s in ethics, with further exploration of the use of portfolios and key factors influencing its design, implementation and assessment of PIF and micro-credentialling in ethics practice.

Article Spark Plasma Stretching and Ignition Improvement via High Frequency Pulsed Current Boost Linyan Wang , Xiao Yu , Zhi Yang Ong , Simon LeBlanc , and Ming Zheng ,* Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, N9B 3P4 Ontario, Canada * Correspondence: mzheng@uwindsor.ca     Received: 9 May 2023 Accepted: 12 May 2023 Published: 19 June 2023   Abstract: In modern engines, the improvement of fuel efficiency and reduction of exhaust emissions have become increasingly important, with the consequent need for improved performance and advancement of ignition systems. The ignition mechanisms utilized in modern engines frequently encounter a fuel-lean or gas-diluted blend of substantial density and vigorous airflow. Under such conditions, the spark plasma is influenced by gas movements, specifically crossflows that occur in a voluminous manner. The gas motions can stretch the plasma channel, thereby amplifying the total discharge energy compared to quiescent conditions. It has been proven that an increased discharge current is an efficacious method for extending the duration of spark plasma stretching. Nevertheless, high discharge current can increase the energy consumption of ignition systems and consequently, influence the durability and overall energy efficiency of the system. Moreover, the persistent flow of intense electrical current leads to prompt erosion of the spark electrode, impacting the durability of the spark plug. In this study, a novel ignition strategy of high-frequency pulsed currents is introduced, to enhance the effectiveness of plasma stretching and energy discharge while minimizing the overall energy usage of ignition systems. A high-frequency pulsed discharge strategy is accomplished within the controlled duration without affecting the plasma stretching phenomenon. The plasma channel behaviors are logged using electrical and optical measurements. Furthermore, the discharge frequency and current level impacts of the boosted current pulses on the plasma stretching behavior and flame propagation are also investigated.