Teacher Educators’ Practices with M-learning: A Case Study of ‘Far Transfer’ Into Schools of Practices Learned during Preservice Teacher Education

A.J. Davis (2017) coined the term ‘far transfer’ in learning as the ability to apply knowledge and skills to novel situations, rather than the knowledge and/or skill that was originally learned, but research evidence of the occurrence of ‘far transfer’ is hard to find. Despite that, the goal of teacher preparation is for student teachers to learn knowledge and skills applicable to their future classrooms and thus ‘far transfer’ is an important goal to achieve. Therefore, today, improving our understanding of how to achieve fruitful ‘far transfer’ of m-learning pedagogies from preservice teacher education into field-based teaching practice in schools is particularly valuable. This paper focuses on our unexpected discovery of the ‘far transfer’ of m-learning pedagogies of a teacher educator, within an overarching instrumental case study of the m-learning practices of eight teacher educators who taught in one or more programmes of preservice teacher education offered by an institution in Aotearoa New Zealand. We conclude that two way ‘far transfer’ is an essential process in Goodlad’s (1994) ‘simultaneous renewal’ of teacher education and schools

Brain-Computer interface control of stepping from invasive electrocorticography upper-limb motor imagery in a patient with quadriplegia

Introduction: Most spinal cord injuries (SCI) result in lower extremities paralysis, thus diminishing ambulation. Using brain-computer interfaces (BCI), patients may regain leg control using neural signals that actuate assistive devices. Here, we present a case of a subject with cervical SCI with an implanted electrocorticography (ECoG) device and determined whether the system is capable of motor-imagery-initiated walking in an assistive ambulator.Methods: A 24-year-old male subject with cervical SCI (C5 ASIA A) was implanted before the study with an ECoG sensing device over the sensorimotor hand region of the brain. The subject used motor-imagery (MI) to train decoders to classify sensorimotor rhythms. Fifteen sessions of closed-loop trials followed in which the subject ambulated for one hour on a robotic-assisted weight-supported treadmill one to three times per week. We evaluated the stability of the best-performing decoder over time to initiate walking on the treadmill by decoding upper-limb (UL) MI.Results: An online bagged trees classifier performed best with an accuracy of 84.15% averaged across 9 weeks. Decoder accuracy remained stable following throughout closed-loop data collection.Discussion: These results demonstrate that decoding UL MI is a feasible control signal for use in lower-limb motor control. Invasive BCI systems designed for upper-extremity motor control can be extended for controlling systems beyond upper extremity control alone. Importantly, the decoders used were able to use the invasive signal over several weeks to accurately classify MI from the invasive signal. More work is needed to determine the long-term consequence between UL MI and the resulting lower-limb control

Promoting Integrated Approaches to Reducing Health Inequities among Low-Income Workers: Applying a Social Ecological Framework

Nearly one of every three workers in the United States is low-income. Low-income populations have a lower life expectancy and greater rates of chronic diseases compared to those with higher incomes. Low- income workers face hazards in their workplaces as well as in their communities. Developing integrated public health programs that address these combined health hazards, especially the interaction of occupational and non-occupational risk factors, can promote greater health equity. We apply a social-ecological perspective in considering ways to improve the health of the low-income working population through integrated health protection and health promotion programs initiated in four different settings: the worksite, state and local health departments, community health centers, and community-based organizations. An example of successful approaches to developing integrated programs in each of these settings is described. Recommendations for improved research, training, and coordination among health departments, health practitioners, worksites and community organizations are proposed

Causal effect of shifting from precarious to standard employment on all-cause mortality in Sweden : an emulation of a target trial

Background: We aimed at estimating the causal effect of switching from precarious to standard employment on the 6-year and 12-year risk of all-cause mortality among workers aged 20-55 years in Sweden. Methods: We emulated a series of 12 target trials starting every year between 2005 and 2016 using Swedish register data (n=251 273). We classified precariously employed individuals using a multidimensional approach at baseline as (1) remaining in precarious employment (PE) (73.8%) and (2) shifting to standard employment (26.2%). All-cause mortality was measured from 2006 to 2017. We pooled data for all 12 emulated trials and used covariate-adjusted pooled logistic regression to estimate intention-to-treat and per-protocol effects via risk ratios (RRs) and standardised risk curves (the parametric g-formula). Results: Shifting from precarious to standard employment decreases the 12-year risk of death by 20% on the relative scale (RR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73; 0.93), regardless of what happens after the initial shift. However, we estimated a 12-year risk reduction of 30% on the relative scale for workers shifting from precarious to standard employment and staying within this employment category for the full 12 years (RR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54; 0.95). Conclusions: This study finds that shifting from low to higher-quality employment conditions (ie, stable employment, sufficient income levels and high coverage by collective agreements) decreases the risk of death. Remaining in PE increases the risk of premature mortality. Our results emphasise the necessity of ensuring decent work for the entire working population to accomplish the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Hustle: Experiences of making work ‘work’ for non-standard and precariously employed workers in New York City

Non-standard employment (NSE) has negative implications for workers' health. As part of a larger comparative case study, this article explores US-based workers' experiences in NSE and its influences on their health and well-being in a context of a shrinking social safety net and individualistic cultural values. We conducted interviews with workers in NSE in various occupations in the New York City area (N = 40). We used deductive and inductive thematic analysis and considered variations across levels of employment precarity. All participants experienced the ‘hustle of NSE,’ a dynamic frame comprising: i) tension between payoffs (flexibility, opportunity to work for more pay, and satisfaction with their work) and tradeoffs (job instability and insecurity, and having to work more) that both implicate participants' health and well-being in mostly negative ways; ii) reliance on personal and family resources and opportunities to manage NSE; and iii) low expectations for improvements in employer-based practices and policies or basic worker and social protections despite having clarity about problems and desires. Workers assessed their work and life circumstances and behaved in a way to try to obtain the best results for themselves and their families. When comparing across employment precarity levels, workers' health and well-being experiences varied by participants' immigration status. Understanding health and well-being consequences of NSE contributes to examining individual costs of labor market flexibility. Achieving health equity must include labor, employment and welfare state policies that are more inclusive of gaps created by NSE and precarious employment, especially for workers in marginalized social locations

Ti-Catalyzed Multicomponent Oxidative Carboamination of Alkynes with Alkenes and Diazenes

The inter- or intramolecular oxidative carboamination of alkynes catalyzed by [py₂TiCl₂NPh]₂ is reported. These multicomponent reactions couple alkenes, alkynes and diazenes to form either α,β-unsaturated imines or α-(iminomethyl)­cyclopropanes via a Ti^II/Ti^IV redox cycle. Each of these products is formed from a common azatitanacyclohexene intermediate that undergoes either β-H elimination or α,γ-coupling, wherein the selectivity is under substrate control

Precarious employment, business performance and occupational injuries : a study protocol of a register-based Swedish project

Introduction There is uncertainty regarding the trends in occupational injuries (OIs) in Sweden due to a significant and increasing problem with under-reporting to injury registers. Under-reporting, in general, is likely to be exacerbated by the rise in precarious employment (PE), a set of unfavourable employment characteristics that would benefit from formal definition and study. PE and global trends are believed also to affect companies and their commitment to health and safety. The present study attempts to bridge these knowledge gaps and presents a study protocol for planned studies, with three main objectives: first, to review the literature for definitions of PE emphasising those that are multidimensional and operationalise components in routinely collected register data; second, to estimate the under-reporting of OI in Swedish registers and third, using results from the first objective, to conduct large, register-based prospective studies, designed to measure effect sizes and interactions between PE, business performance and OI. Methods and analysis First, a scientific literature review will be conducted, including scientific databases and grey literature. Second, data from two major OI registers will be used to estimate the magnitude of under-reporting using capture-recapture methodology. Finally, all residents aged 18-65 in Sweden with any registered income during 2003-2015 will be included. Data sources encompass Swedish population and labour market registers with linkage to both the main OI register with national coverage and hospital records. Trends in PE and OI will be explored, together with risk of OI associated with PE and business performance. Ethics and dissemination The project has been approved by the Regional Ethics Committee, Stockholm (dnr: 2016/2325-31; 2017/2173-32). Dissemination of study results will include a series of peer-reviewed papers, at least one PhD thesis and one report in Swedish, engaging relevant stakeholders. Results will be presented in national and international conferences and through press releases to mass media