Developing more authentic E-courses by integrating working life mentoring and social media

Studies show that affordances of social media have not yet been fully exploited in the promotion of authentic e-learning in higher education. The e-Learning of the Future project (2009-2011) has met these challenges through working life mentoring using social media. In this paper, we examine the planning and implementation of social media in nine project courses and how these changes support authentic learning. A further focus of interest is the role of working life mentors in the process. The outcomes indicate that the introduction of social media measures strongly supported the strengthening of authentic learning principles (Herrington & Oliver, 2000) on the courses. Revisions to learning tasks centred on establishing connections to expert communities, the use of blogs, and the compilation of recorded entrepreneurial narratives. Working life mentors brought an up-to-date, work-oriented perspective to the process and highlighted skills required by workplaces of the future. Developing educational tasks that cross traditional boundaries raises issues of operational culture change, the roles of partners and transparency of education, and these implications are discussed in the paper

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the staff of a public school system in the midwestern United States.

Since March 2020, the United States has lost over 580,000 lives to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19. A growing body of literature describes population-level SARS-CoV-2 exposure, but studies of antibody seroprevalence within school systems are critically lacking, hampering evidence-based discussions on school reopenings. The Lake Central School Corporation (LCSC), a public school system in suburban Indiana, USA, assessed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in its staff and identified correlations between seropositivity and subjective histories and demographics. This study is a cross-sectional, population-based analysis of the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in LCSC staff measured in July 2020. We tested for seroprevalence with the Abbott Alinity™ SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test. The primary outcome was the total seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2, and secondary outcomes included trends of antibody presence in relation to baseline attributes. 753 participants representative of the staff at large were enrolled. 22 participants (2.9%, 95% CI: 1.8% - 4.4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Correcting for test performance parameters, the seroprevalence is estimated at 1.7% (90% Credible Interval: 0.27% - 3.3%). Multivariable logistic regression including mask wearing, travel history, symptom history, and contact history revealed a 48-fold increase in the odds of seropositivity if an individual previously tested positive for COVID-19 (OR: 48, 95% CI: 4-600). Amongst individuals with no previous positive test, exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 increased the odds of seropositivity by 7-fold (OR: 7.2, 95% CI: 2.6-19). Assuming the presence of antibodies is associated with immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection, these results demonstrate a broad lack of herd immunity amongst the school corporation's staff irrespective of employment role or location. Protective measures like contact tracing, face coverings, and social distancing are therefore vital to maintaining the safety of both students and staff as the school year progresses

No Evidence of Harms of Probiotic <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> GG ATCC 53103 in Healthy Elderly—A Phase I Open Label Study to Assess Safety, Tolerability and Cytokine Responses

<div><p>Background</p><p>Although <i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> GG ATCC 53103 (LGG) has been consumed by 2 to 5 million people daily since the mid 1990s, there are few clinical trials describing potential harms of LGG, particularly in the elderly.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>The primary objective of this open label clinical trial is to assess the safety and tolerability of 1×10¹⁰ colony forming units (CFU) of LGG administered orally twice daily to elderly volunteers for 28 days. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the effects of LGG on the gastrointestinal microbiome, host immune response and plasma cytokines.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Fifteen elderly volunteers, aged 66–80 years received LGG capsules containing 1×10¹⁰ CFU, twice daily for 28 days and were followed through day 56. Volunteers completed a daily diary, a telephone call on study days 3, 7 and 14 and study visits in the Clinical Research Center at baseline, day 28 and day 56 to determine whether adverse events had occurred. Assessments included prompted and open-ended questions.</p><p>Results</p><p>There were no serious adverse events. The 15 volunteers had a total of 47 events (range 1–7 per volunteer), 39 (83%) of which were rated as mild and 40% of which were considered related to consuming LGG. Thirty-one (70%) of the events were expected, prompted symptoms while 16 were unexpected events. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal (bloating, gas, and nausea), 27 rated as mild and 3 rated as moderate. In the exploratory analysis, the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 decreased during LGG consumption, returning towards baseline one month after discontinuing LGG (p = 0.038) while there was no difference in other pro- or anti-inflammatory plasma cytokines.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p><i>Lactobacillus rhamnosus</i> GG ATCC 53103 is safe and well tolerated in healthy adults aged 65 years and older.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01274598" target="_blank">NCT 01274598</a></p></div

Baseline characteristics of enrolled volunteers (N = 15).

1<p>Gastroesophageal reflux disease.</p>2<p>During the study, 1 volunteer started taking a proton pump inhibitor on day 15 of the study, 1 volunteer started taking an antihypertensive on day 48 of the study, 1 volunteer was started on antibiotics on day 37 of the study, and 1 subject started taking an NSAID on day 7 of the study.</p>3<p>Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.</p>4<p>Antidepressant medications, hormones, medications for benign prostatic hypertrophy, incontinence and sleep.</p>5<p>Low potassium, not clinically significant.</p><p>Baseline characteristics of enrolled volunteers (N = 15).</p

Median and interquartile range of cytokine production (pg/mL).

<p>*Significantly changes over time.</p><p>Median and interquartile range of cytokine production (pg/mL).</p

Inclusion and exclusion criteria.

<p>Inclusion and exclusion criteria.</p