Leadership Preparation of Preservice Teachers

Educator preparation providers are passionate about developing the best teachers. It is important for teacher preparation programs to explore how teacher leadership can help attract and retain a diverse and quality educator workforce, however research on teacher leadership at the preservice level is limited. This quantitative study examined the preparation of preservice teachers for leadership. One hundred student teachers completed an online survey using Survey Monkey® to determine the relationship between teacher licensure area (elementary, secondary, K-12, and special education) and leadership behaviors, opportunities, and aspirations. Data analysis was completed using measures of central tendency and variance. No statistically significant correlation was found between licensure area and leadership behaviors, opportunities, or aspirations. A descriptive analysis was also conducted based on general teacher leadership qualities and the following typologies of teacher leadership: (a) instructional innovator, (b) professional learning leader, and (c) administrative teacher leader. An examination of the relationship between licensure area and typology was determined to be statistically significant and revealed preservice teachers in all licensure areas most identified with general leadership qualities such as finding work meaningful, respecting others, contributing to the success of the students and school, and being recognized and valued. The results of this study add to the existing research that a professional culture built around teachers as leaders is important to the education profession and should be considered throughout all stages of a teacher’s career, starting at the preservice level

Implementation of a Palliative Care Program in Rural Minnesota

Background: Rural areas have higher percentages of older adults with multiple chronic illnesses yet disparities exist with access to palliative care (PC) in rural areas. Palliative care can improve quality measures that positively impact care and health outcomes. Objective: The evidence-based project’s (EBP) objective was to implement a community-based PC program in a rural primary care clinic in rural Minnesota, US and evaluate quality metrics to further support program sustainability. Design: The project developed and implemented a community-based PC program in rural Minnesota. A tool kit was created for use for the site’s care providers and leaders. Setting/Subjects: The project included older adults in three long-term care (LTC) and three assisted living facilities in a rural community in Minnesota in the United States and included 15 participants. Methods: Quality of life (QOL), symptom assessment, and hospital utilization were measured to evaluate effectiveness and efficacy of a new rural community-based PC program. Data collection was completed on QOL using The McGill Quality of Life-Revised (MQOL-R) survey was used to collect data on QOL. Chart review was used to obtain clinical assessment of symptoms. A retrospective analysis was used to analyze hospital utilization. Results: Participants had higher psychological well-being but perceived their life as having less meaning. Analyzing the influence of number of participant illnesses on the MQOL-R physical subscale demonstrated marginal significance (p = 0.073) with a higher number of illnesses decreasing QOL. Conclusion: PC programs in rural communities can play an important role in support older adults in their experience with chronic diseases and decrease hospital utilization. Quality measurements related to symptom assessment are feasible to collect in rural PC programs. Hospital utilization rates may positively impact with PC. Key words: Palliative care, quality of life, symptom assessment, symptom management, hospital utilization, rural healthcare

Ready or Not: The Leadership Preparation of Preservice Teachers at Christian Liberal Arts Institutions

Teacher leadership is a component of teaching that exists from the beginning of a teacher’s career and continues to develop over the course of their career trajectory. Research on teacher leadership at the preservice level is limited, but it does speak to the consideration for the starting point of teacher leadership development to be within teacher preparation programs. This quantitative study examined the preparation of preservice teachers for leadership at Christian liberal arts institutions of higher education. One hundred student teachers completed an online survey to determine the relationship between teacher licensure area (elementary, secondary, K-12, and special education) and leadership behaviors, opportunities, and aspirations. A descriptive analysis was then conducted based on general teacher leadership qualities and the following typologies of teacher leadership: (a) instructional innovator, (b) professional learning leader, and (c) administrative teacher leader. The results of this study add to the existing research that a professional culture built around teachers as leaders is important to the education profession and should be considered throughout all stages of a teacher’s career, starting at the preservice level

Biomaterials in cochlear implants

The cochlear implant (CI) represents, for almost 25 years now, the gold standard in the treatment of children born deaf and for postlingually deafened adults. These devices thus constitute the greatest success story in the field of ‘neurobionic’ prostheses. Their (now routine) fitting in adults, and especially in young children and even babies, places exacting demands on these implants, particularly with regard to the biocompatibility of a CI’s surface components. Furthermore, certain parts of the implant face considerable mechanical challenges, such as the need for the electrode array to be flexible and resistant to breakage, and for the implant casing to be able to withstand external forces

Potential use of offshore marine structures in rebuilding an overfished rockfish species, bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis)

Although bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) was an economically important rockfish species along the west coast of North America, overfishing has reduced the stock to about 7.4% of its former unfished population. In 2003, using a manned research submersible, we conducted fish surveys around eight oil and gas platforms off southern California as part of an assessment of the potential value of these structures as fish habitat. From these surveys, we estimated that there was a minimum of 430,000 juvenile bocaccio at these eight structures. We determined this number to be about 20% of the average number of juvenile bocaccio that survive annually for the geographic range of the species. When these juveniles become adults, they will contribute about one percent (0.8%) of the additional amount of fish needed to rebuild the Pacific Coast population. By comparison, juvenile bocaccio recruitment to nearshore natural nursery grounds, as determined through regional scuba surveys, was low in the same year. This research demonstrates that a relatively small amount of artificial nursery habitat may be quite valuable in rebuilding an overfished species

Individual Optimization of the Insertion of a Preformed Cochlear Implant Electrode Array

Purpose. The aim of this study was to show that individual adjustment of the curling behaviour of a preformed cochlear implant (CI) electrode array to the patient-specific shape of the cochlea can improve the insertion process in terms of reduced risk of insertion trauma. Methods. Geometry and curling behaviour of preformed, commercially available electrode arrays were modelled. Additionally, the anatomy of each small, medium-sized, and large human cochlea was modelled to consider anatomical variations. Finally, using a custom-made simulation tool, three different insertion strategies (conventional Advanced Off-Stylet (AOS) insertion technique, an automated implementation of the AOS technique, and a manually optimized insertion process) were simulated and compared with respect to the risk of insertion-related trauma. The risk of trauma was evaluated using a newly developed “trauma risk” rating scale. Results. Using this simulation-based approach, it was shown that an individually optimized insertion procedure is advantageous compared with the AOS insertion technique. Conclusion. This finding leads to the conclusion that, in general, consideration of the specific curling behaviour of a CI electrode array is beneficial in terms of less traumatic insertion. Therefore, these results highlight an entirely novel aspect of clinical application of preformed perimodiolar electrode arrays in general

A psychoacoustic "NofM"-type speech coding strategy for cochlear implants

We describe a new signal processing technique for cochlear implants using a psychoacoustic-masking model. The technique is based on the principle of a so-called "NofM" strategy. These strategies stimulate fewer channels (N) per cycle than active electrodes (NofM; N < M). In "NofM" strategies such as ACE or SPEAK, only the N channels with higher amplitudes are stimulated. The new strategy is based on the ACE strategy but uses a psychoacoustic-masking model in order to determine the essential components of any given audio signal. This new strategy was tested on device users in an acute Study, with either 4 or 8 channels stimulated per cycle. For the first condition (4 channels), the mean improvement over the ACE strategy was 17%. For the second condition (8 channels), no significant difference was found between the two strategies

Food Insecurity Among College Students: Implication for Wellbeing and Academic Success

Introduction: Food insecurity is associated with many negative effects such as increased stress and reduced well-being. Food insecurity among college students is a growing area of research as students often leave school due to financial concerns, mental health struggles, and illness. This study was conducted to assess student food insecurity in the hopes of learning how to better assist students\u27 wellbeing and success. Methods: Using both standardized assessments and researcher-developed questions, an online survey was created to examine food insecurity, sleep, mental and physical health, ability to focus on academics, and awareness and usage of food resources. Participants were recruited from Winona State University (N = 155). Results: Of participants surveyed, 21% reported low to very low food security. Among the participants that responded to food resource usage, only 4% reported using any food resources. Correlational analyses found that food insecurity was associated with greater symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. Additional correlational analyses found relationships between food insecurity and poor sleep quality, reduced ability to focus on classes, and lower physical health. Discussion: Findings highlight potential consequences of food insecurity, including concerns for students\u27 wellbeing and academic success. Negative impacts of food insecurity may extend to students\u27 completion, graduation, and retention rates. Therefore, compelling evidence supports the necessity of additional intervention at the university, state, and federal levels

SOS: Send My Location

The SOS Send My Location application is for anyone who goes somewhere that might pose danger so they can have a solution that, in case of emergency, generates their curated message and populates their messaging application with their specified contacts and sends their location. It helps a user feel safe in cases of emergency, since they can ask for help with the touch of a button and some initially provided information. There is also an option where the user chooses who they want as their emergency contacts, as well as the ability to enter a custom message to send. The application has user friendly features, which enable users to utilize the application with little to no instruction

Consensus Statement on Bone Conduction Devices and Active Middle Ear Implants in Conductive and Mixed Hearing Loss

Nowadays, several options are available to treat patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss. Whenever surgical intervention is not possible or contra-indicated, and amplification by a conventional hearing device (e.g., behind-the-ear device) is not feasible, then implantable hearing devices are an indispensable next option. Implantable bone-conduction devices and middle-ear implants have advantages but also limitations concerning complexity/invasiveness of the surgery, medical complications, and effectiveness. To counsel the patient, the clinician should have a good overview of the options with regard to safety and reliability as well as unequivocal technical performance data. The present consensus document is the outcome of an extensive iterative process including ENT specialists, audiologists, health-policy scientists, and representatives/technicians of the main companies in this field. This document should provide a first framework for procedures and technical characterization to enhance effective communication between these stakeholders, improving health care