Work Integrated Learning and the Humanities: Possibilities and future directions

In 2008, in response to government, industry and community demand, Australia completed its first large scale scoping study of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) curriculum in contemporary Australian higher education. The aim of the WIL project was to document and scope current WIL practices nationally, and identify ways to improve the educational experience of students, in order to produce more industry focused, work ready graduates (Patrick et al., 2008). The project, which was government funded and included 37 of Australia's 39 universities, found that all of those who participated in the study saw real value in adopting a more industry focused curricula, however, it also revealed that many were still grappling with selecting from the range of options available, and finding the most appropriate way of integrating them into courses. Traditional disciplines such as nursing, medicine, education and engineering have always had an embedded work integrated learning component in their curriculum, usually in the form of industry placements, but many disciplines, in non-traditional areas such as the liberal arts, were new to this concept of WIL and unsure of how to customise programs to meet the needs of their particular discipline. To address this issue, a series of narratives or vignettes were developed and compiled to provide insight into not only to the diverse range of pedagogical practices in the area, but also offer practical advice on how to establish, develop and manage programs in an innovative and sustainable way. This paper analyses more closely the Australian research on embedding WIL in non-traditional areas and highlights a number of key vignettes that offer significant insights into possible future directions for the Humanities as they come to terms with this challenge

Activation and inhibition of bimanual movements in school-aged children

The development of motor activation and inhibition was compared in 6-to-12 year-olds. Children had to initiate or stop the externally paced movements of one hand, while maintaining that of the other hand. The time needed to perform the switching task (RT) and the spatio-temporal variables show different agerelated evolutions depending on the coordination pattern (inor anti-phase) and the type of transition (activation, selective inhibition, non selective inhibition) required. In the anti-phase mode, activation perturbs the younger subjects' responses while temporal and spatial stabilities transiently decrease around 9 years when activating in the in-phase mode. Aged-related changes differed between inhibition and activation in the antiphase mode, suggesting either the involvement of distinct neural networks or the existence of a single network that is reorganized. In contrast, stopping or adding one hand in the in-phase mode shows similar aged-related improvement. We suggest that selectively stopping or activating one arm during symmetrical coordination rely on the two faces of a common processing in which activation could be the release of inhibitio

Comparing profitability of Burlina and Holstein Friesian cattle breeds

Aim of this study was to compare profitability of Burlina and Holstein Friesian cows in northern Italy. Cow's profitability was calculated for each breed, with consideration of economic incentive programs and alternative milk pricing scenarios. The difference in annual profitability between Burlina and Holstein Friesian ranged from −€719 to −€274 per cow per year. In a low-input management level with a cow's incentive payment and a specific cheese market strategy the low milk yield of Burlina can be compensate respect to Holstein Friesian

Transparent reporting of recruitment and informed consent approaches in clinical trials recruiting children with minor parents in sub-Saharan Africa: a secondary analysis based on a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Standardised checklists of items to be addressed in clinical study protocols and publications are promoting transparency in research. However, particular specifications for exceptional cases, such as children with minor parents are missing. This study aimed to examine the level of transparency regarding recruitment and informed consent approaches in publications of clinical trials recruiting children with minor parents in sub-Saharan Africa. We thereby focused particularly on the transparency about consenting persons (i.e. proxy decision-makers) and assessed the need to expand reporting guidelines for such exceptional cases. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of clinical trial publications previously identified through a systematic review. Multiple scientific databases were searched up to March 2019. Clinical trial publications addressing consent and potentially recruiting children with minor parents in sub-Saharan Africa were included. 44 of the in total 4382 screened articles met our inclusion criteria. A descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: None of the included articles provided full evidence on whether any recruited children had minor parents and how consent was obtained for them. Four proxy decision-maker types were identified (parents; parents or guardians; guardians; or caregivers), with further descriptions provided rarely and mostly in referenced clinical trial registrations or protocols. Also, terminology describing proxy decision-makers was often used inconsistently. CONCLUSIONS: Reporting the minimum maternal age alongside maternal data provided in baseline demographics can increase transparency on the recruitment of children with minor mothers. The CONSORT checklist should require clinical trial publications to state or reference exceptional informed consent procedures applied for special population groups. A standardized definition of proxy decision-maker types in international clinical trial guidelines would facilitate correct and transparent informed consent for children and children with minor parents. STUDY REGISTRATION: CRD42018074220

Roll rate thresholds and perceived realism in driving simulation

Due to limited operational space, in dynamic driving simulators it is common practice to implement motion cueing algorithms that tilt the simulator cabin to reproduce sustained accelerations. In order to avoid conflicting inertial cues, the tilt rate is kept below drivers’ perceptual thresholds, which are typically derived from the results of classical vestibular research where additional sensory cues to self-motion are removed. Here we conduct two experiments in order to assess whether higher tilt limits can be employed to expand the user’s perceptual workspace of dynamic driving simulators. In the first experiment we measure detection thresholds for roll in conditions that closely resemble typical driving. In the second experiment we measure drivers’ perceived realism in slalom driving for sub-, near- and supra-threshold roll rates. Results show that detection threshold for roll in an active driving task is remarkably higher than the limits currently used in motion cueing algorithms to drive simulators. Supra-threshold roll rates in the slalom task are also rated as more realistic. Overall, our findings suggest that higher tilt limits can be successfully implemented in motion cueing algorithms to better optimize simulator operational space

Development of immune memory to glial brain tumors after tumor regression induced by immunotherapeutic Toll-like receptor 7/8 activation

The efficacy of immunotherapeutic TLR7/8 activation by resiquimod (R848) was evaluated in vivo, in the CNS-1 rat glioma model syngeneic to Lewis rats. The immune treatment was compared with cytotoxic cyclophosphamide chemotherapy, and as well, was compared with the combination cytotoxic and immunotherapeutic treatments. We found that parenteral treatment with the TLR7/8 agonist, resiquimod, eventually induced complete tumor regression of CNS-1 glioblastoma tumors in Lewis rats. Cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment also resulted in dramatic CNS-1 remission, while the combined treatment showed similar antitumor effects. The resiquimod efficacy appeared not to be associated with direct injury to CNS-1 growth, while CY proved to exert tumoricidal cytotoxicity to the tumor cells. Rats that were cured by treatment with the innate immune response modifier resiquimod proved to be fully immune to secondary CNS-1 tumor rechallenge. They all remained tumor-free and survived. In contrast, rats that controlled CNS-1 tumor growth as a result of CY treatment did not develop immune memory, as demonstrated by their failure to reject a secondary CNS-1 tumor challenge; they showed a concomittant outgrowth of the primary tumor upon secondary tumor exposure. Rechallenge of rats that initially contained tumor growth by combination chemo-immunotherapy also failed to reject secondary tumor challenge, indicating that the cytotoxic effect of the CY likely extended to the endogenous memory immune cells as well as to the tumor. These data demonstrate strong therapeutic antitumor efficacy for the immune response modifier resiquimod leading to immunological memory, and suggest that CY treatment, although effective as chemotherapeutic agent, may be deleterious to maintenance of long-term antitumor immune memory. These data also highlight the importance of the sequence in which a multi-modal therapy is administered

Crescimento e desenvolvimento de pessegueiros 'Chimarrita' e 'Maciel' sobre diferentes porta-enxertos e locais de cultivo.

Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar a influência dos porta-enxertos no que se refere ao crescimento vegetativo e desenvolvimento dos pessegueiro 'Chimarrita' e 'Maciel' em três locais de cultivo. O experimento foi desenvolvido em três locais de cultivo: 1 (Embrapa Uva e Vinho), 2 (EEA UFRGS) e 3 (CAP UFPel), em três anos. As cultivares de pessegueiro utilizadas foram: 'Chimarrita' e 'Maciel' enxertadas sobre seis porta-enxertos ('Aldrighi', 'Capdeboscq', 'Flordaguard', 'Nemaguard', 'Okinawa' e Umezeiro), no espaçamento 1,5 X 5,0m e conduzidas no sistema em ?V?. Foram avaliados: volume de copa, diâmetro de tronco, massa fresca da poda, produção por planta acumulada, comprimento, espessura, gemas floríferas e densidade florífera do ramo produtivo. Também foi avaliado de forma visual o ponto de enxertia. O porta-enxerto Umezeiro induziu menor vigor nos três locais de cultivo estudados e na média dos três anos. Ele pode ser indicado para utilização sob 'Maciel' nas condições edafoclimáticas do local 3. No local 1 o porta-enxerto, 'Nemaguard' possui alto vigor e maior produção acumulada, sendo o mais indicado. Já para o local 2, os porta-enxertos 'Capdeboscq', 'Okinawa' e 'Flordaguard' são os mais indicados. Os porta-enxertos afetam as características de crescimento e desenvolvimento das cultivares 'Chimarrita' e 'Maciel', o vigor destas é menor sobre o portaenxerto Umezeiro nos três locais de cultivo. Todos os portaenxertos podem ser indicados para os três locais de cultivo, com exceção do Umezeiro, que somente pode ser indicado em combinação com a cultivar 'Maciel' no local 3