A Mixed Methods Study Regarding the Impact Virtual Education had on Teachers During COVID-19

Virtual learning and COVID-19 drastically changed the landscape of education. School districts were forced to think about education differently, and COVID-19 led schools and communities into unfamiliar territory with daunting trials and tasks (Pressley & Ha, 2021). The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to add to existing research and examine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted teachers and school districts during their transition to virtual learning. The social cognitive theory and self-efficacy theory were utilized as the conceptional framework of the study. Phase one of the study included a quantitative survey from one Southwest Missouri school district. A focus group interview with six participants revealed qualitative data in phase two. After analyzing survey data and the focus group interview, three themes emerged, communication, administrative support, and self-efficacy. Implications of this study include the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on teachers’ transition to virtual learning through communication, professional learning opportunities, teacher preparedness, and collaborative school culture

Effects of living near a new urban motorway on the travel behaviour of local residents in deprived areas: Evidence from a natural experimental study

We evaluated the effects of a new motorway built through deprived neighbourhoods on travel behaviour in residents. This natural experiment comprised a longitudinal cohort (n=365) and two cross-sectional samples (baseline n=980; follow-up n=978) recruited in 2005 and 2013. Adults from one of three study areas - surrounding the new motorway (South), an existing motorway (East), or no motorway (North) - completed a previous day travel record. Adjusted two-part regression models examined associations between exposure and outcome. Compared to the North, cohort participants in the South were more likely to undertake travel by any mode (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0–4.2) at follow-up. Within the South study area, cohort participants living closer to a motorway junction were more likely to travel by any mode at follow-up (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.1–19.7), and cross-sectional participants living closer were more likely to use a car at follow-up (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1–10.7), compared to those living further away. Overall, the new motorway appeared to promote travel and car use in those living nearby, but did not influence active travel. This may propagate socioeconomic inequalities in non-car owners

Sharing large data collections between mobile peers

New directions in the provision of end-user computing experiences mean that we need to determine the best way to share data between small mobile computing devices. Partitioning large structures so that they can be shared efficiently provides a basis for data-intensive applications on such platforms. In conjunction with such an approach, dictionary-based compression techniques provide additional benefits and help to prolong battery life

Jason Waller: The Existence of God: A Simple Argument that Changed the Mind of a Long-time Atheist, with response by Dr. Richard Foley

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/humanitiescenter_transformations1213/1003/thumbnail.jp

Jason Waller: The Existence of God: A Simple Argument that Changed the Mind of a Long-time Atheist, with response by Dr. Richard Foley

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/humanitiescenter_transformations1213/1003/thumbnail.jp

Bilateral simultaneous complete quadriceps rupture following chronic symptomatic tendinopathy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Quadriceps rupture is a disabling injury mostly seen in men over 40 years of age. Bilateral quadriceps rupture is a rare injury that is often secondary to predisposing medical conditions. Ultrasound is a cheap and reliable tool for diagnosis but is operator dependent. Thus, magnetic resonance imaging is the preferred method of investigation despite its cost and availability. Prompt diagnosis and early surgical repair are needed for an optimal end result.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a healthy 54-year-old Caucasian male farmer who presented with bilateral simultaneous complete quadriceps rupture, which was managed surgically and he was followed up for three years. He was previously under our care for enthesopathy of the quadriceps on both sides. We believe that chronic enthesopathy of the superior pole of patella made his quadriceps susceptible to complete rupture on eccentric loading.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Only a few cases of bilateral simultaneous complete quadriceps rupture in patients with symptomatic enthesopathy have been previously reported. We stress the importance of warning patients of the risk of developing complete tendon rupture when they present with an enthesopathy around the knee.</p

Endurance training slows breast tumor growth in mice by suppressing Treg cells recruitment to tumors

BACKGROUND: Aerobic exercise has been shown to slow tumor progression in rodents and humans, but the mechanisms behind this effect are still unclear. Here we show that aerobic exercise in the form of chronic endurance training suppresses tumor recruitment of FoxP3+ Treg cells thus enhancing antitumor immune efficiency. METHODS: Adult wild-type and athymic BALB/c female mice were endurance-trained for 8 weeks. Circulating leukocytes as well as muscle and liver mtDNA copy number were compared to aged-matched concurrent sedentary controls to establish systemic effects. 4 T1 murine mammary tumor cells were injected subcutaneously to the 4th mammary pad at the end of the training period. Tumor growth and survival rates were compared, together with antitumor immune response. RESULTS: Exercised wild-type had 17% slower growth rate, 24% longer survival, and 2-fold tumor-CD+ 8/FoxP3+ ratio than sedentary controls. Exercised athymic BALB/c females showed no difference in tumor growth or survival rates when compared to sedentary controls. CONCLUSIONS: Cytotoxic T cells are a significant factor in endurance exercise-induced suppression of tumor growth. Endurance exercise enhances antitumor immune efficacy by increasing intratumoral CD8+/FoxP3+ ratio