Discovering academics' key learning connections: An ego-centric network approach to analysing learning about teaching

The aim of this exploratory study is to investigate the role of personal networks in supporting academics’ professional learning about teaching. As part of a wider project, the paper focuses on the composition of academics’ networks and possible implications of network tendencies for academics’ learning about teaching. The study adopts a mixed-method approach. Firstly, the composition of academics’ networks is examined using Social Network Analysis. Secondly, the role of these networks in academics’ learning about teaching is analysed through semi-structured interviews. Findings reveal the prevalence of localised and strong-tie connections, which could inhibit opportunities for effective learning and spread of innovations in teaching. The study highlights the need to promote connectivity within and across institutions, creating favourable conditions for effective professional development

Who do you talk to about your teaching?' Networking activities among university teachers

As the higher education environment changes, there are calls for university teachers to change and enhance their teaching practices to match. Networking practices are known to be deeply implicated in studies of change and diffusion of innovation, yet academics’ networking activities in relation to teaching have been little studied. This paper extends the current limited understanding, building on Roxå and Mårtensson’s work (2009) and extending it from Sweden to the UK and USA. It is based on two separate studies, one from the Share Project led by the University of Kent, and one from Glasgow Caledonian University, exploring the composition of personal networks, and the characteristics of interactions in order to understand the networking practices which may support change of teaching practice. We conclude that academics’ personal teaching networks are mainly discipline-specific and strongly localised. This contrasts with the research networks found by Becher and Trowler (2001) and may reduce innovation, although about half the respondents also had external contacts that might support creativity

СВИНЦОВАЯ ЭКСПОЗИЦИЯ КАК ПРЕДПОСЫЛКА ОГРАНИЧЕНИЯ РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ МАКСИМАЛЬНОЙ ФИЗИЧЕСКОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ

As a result of man’s technological activities, numerous quantities of lead and its compounds are spread into the environment annually. The long-term effects of low doses of lead on the lungs, heart muscle and the transport function of erythrocytes were investigated.  The study results indicate that long-term intake of small doses of lead, even in the absence of visible clinical manifestations, causes distinct structural changes and therefore, functional changes in the heart muscle, respiratory system, reduces the transport function of erythrocytes, and also possibly limiting the oxygen transport in myocytes and its deposition in tissues and diffusion into cells. There is no doubt that these changes will limit the ability to maximize the realization of physical activity.As a result of man’s technological activities, numerous quantities of lead and its compounds are spread into the environment annually. The long-term effects of low doses of lead on the lungs, heart muscle and the transport function of erythrocytes were investigated.  The study results indicate that long-term intake of small doses of lead, even in the absence of visible clinical manifestations, causes distinct structural changes and therefore, functional changes in the heart muscle, respiratory system, reduces the transport function of erythrocytes, and also possibly limiting the oxygen transport in myocytes and its deposition in tissues and diffusion into cells. There is no doubt that these changes will limit the ability to maximize the realization of physical activity

Tweetstorming PLNs: Using Twitter to Brainstorm about Personal Learning Networks

Sie, R., Boursinou, E., Rajagopal, K., & Pataraia, N. (2011). Tweetstorming PLNs: Using Twitter to Brainstorm about Personal Learning Networks. In Proceedings of The PLE Conference 2011. July, 10-12, 2011, Southampton, UK.We start off by giving a short introduction. The introduction defines the scope of the workshop, the purpose, and the means. Particularly, the participants will be asked to identify their personal online learning network. They should identify how they are connected to others (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, offline), and what they think their peers’ expertises are. This will provide us with an elaborate view on how participants perceive their learning network. Next, the Tweetstorm (brainstorm over Twitter) will be introduced and explained. During the Tweetstorm, we discuss what contributes to meaningful cooperation within a learning network. A twitter hashtag (#usePLN) will be used to monitor and aggregate the participants’ utterances. A ‘Twitter wall’ (hashtags.org) will be used to visualise the brainstorm, such that participants see what others have posted, building upon their ideas and reacting to their ideas. Finally, we collect the results and conclude our session with an overview of the learning network and the outcomes of the Tweetstorm session

In vivo P-glycoprotein function before and after epilepsy surgery

Objectives: To study the functional activity of the multidrug efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (Pgp) at the blood-brain barrier of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy using (R)-[11C]verapamil (VPM)-PET before and after temporal lobe surgery to assess whether postoperative changes in seizure frequency and antiepileptic drug load are associated with changes in Pgp function. Methods: Seven patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy underwent VPM-PET scans pre- and postsurgery. Patients were followed up for a median of 6 years (range 4–7) after surgery. Pgp immunoreactivity in surgically resected hippocampal specimens was determined with immunohistochemistry. Results: Optimal surgical outcome, defined as seizure freedom and withdrawal of antiepileptic drugs, was associated with higher temporal lobe Pgp function before surgery, higher Pgp-positive staining in surgically resected hippocampal specimens, and reduction in global Pgp function postoperatively, compared with nonoptimal surgery outcome. Conclusions: The data from our pilot study suggest that Pgp overactivity in epilepsy is dynamic, and complete seizure control and elimination of antiepileptic medication is associated with reversal of overactivity, although these findings will require confirmation in a larger patient cohort