Sustainable Teaching in an Uncertain World: Pedagogical Continuities, Un-Precedented Challenges

Beyond the very pressing immediacy of the pace of change induced by internationalising tendencies, a world without borders, there is increasing pressure on teachers to be more adept, agile, and adaptive, particularly at incorporating new and emerging technologies into their pedagogical repertoires, while international agencies, increasingly influential in this febrile landscape, proffer reform rhetorics that are superficial at best in their appreciation or understanding of local conditions, the realities of teachers’ lives and work. While an emphasis on ‘what works’ too has its limitations, what this chapter seeks to identify is not merely incremental contributions to often limited pedagogical repertoires, but to approach the considerable challenge from a sustainability perspective, sufficient to identify adaptive steps to possible futures that are hopeful, life enhancing, sustaining and sustainable, enriching the quality of teaching and learning, contributing to an emerging pedagogical praxis

Prophylactic onlay mesh placement techniques for optimal abdominal wall closure:randomized controlled trial in an ex vivo biomechanical model

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernias occur after up to 40 per cent of laparotomies. Recent RCTs have demonstrated the role of prophylactic mesh placement in reducing the risk of developing an incisional hernia. An onlay approach is relatively straightforward; however, a variety of techniques have been described for mesh fixation. The biomechanical properties have not been interrogated extensively to date.METHODS: This ex vivo randomized controlled trial using porcine abdominal wall investigated the biomechanical properties of three techniques for prophylactic onlay mesh placement at laparotomy closure. A classical onlay, anchoring onlay, and novel bifid onlay approach were compared with small-bite primary closure. A biomechanical abdominal wall model and ball burst test were used to assess transverse stretch, bursting force, and loading characteristics.RESULTS: Mesh placement took an additional 7-15 min compared with standard primary closure. All techniques performed similarly, with no clearly superior approach. The minimum burst force was 493 N, and the maximum 1053 N. The classical approach had the highest mean burst force (mean(s.d.) 853(152) N). Failure patterns fell into either suture-line or tissue failures. Classical and anchoring techniques provided a second line of defence in the event of primary suture failure, whereas the bifid method demonstrated a more compliant loading curve. All mesh approaches held up at extreme quasistatic loads.CONCLUSION: Subtle differences in biomechanical properties highlight the strengths of each closure type and suggest possible uses. The failure mechanisms seen here support the known hypotheses for early fascial dehiscence. The influence of dynamic loading needs to be investigated further in future studies.</p

A recepção da teoria dos sistemas de luhmann na jurisprudência constitucional colombiana

This paper presents some considerations about the influence that Luhmann’s systems theory has had in the decisions of the Colombian Constitutional Court from its inception. It makes a general reference to the basic concepts of the Luhmannian theory, the interrelationship of social systems—law, politics and morals—, and some criticism to legal positivism that might arise from Luhmann. We studied the jurisprudence of the Colombian Constitutional Court from its creation until the research date, analyzing in which of them the Constitutional Court used the Luhmannian theory to support its ruling and how it did it. We found that Luhmann's theory was cited in only three rulings, suggesting its precariousness regarding as a theory “accepted” by law practitioners in Colombia.Este texto presenta algunas consideraciones sobre la influencia que ha tenido la teoría de los sistemas de Luhmann en las decisiones de la Corte Constitucional Colombiana desde sus inicios. Encontraremos una mención general sobre los conceptos básicos de la teoría luhmanniana, sobre la interrelación de los sistemas sociales Derecho, Política y Moral y sobre algunas críticas que podrían plantearse desde Luhmann hacia el positivismo jurídico. Se hizo un estudio de la jurisprudencia de la Corte Constitucional Colombiana desde su creación hasta la fecha de la investigación, analizando en cuáles de estas el tribunal constitucional utilizó la teoría luhmanniana para sustentar su fallo y de qué forma lo hizo, encontrando que solo en tres sentencias fue citada la teoría de Luhmann, lo que indica una precariedad en cuanto a su consideración como una teoría “aceptada” por quienes ejercen el derecho en Colombia.Este texto apresenta algumas considerações sobre a influência que a teoria dos sistemas de Luhmann teve sobre as decisões do Tribunal Constitucional colombiano desde sua criação. Encontraremos uma menção geral sobre os conceitos básicos da teoria Luhmanniana, sobre a inter-relação dos sistemas sociais Direito, Política e Moral e sobre algumas críticas que poderiam ser apresentadas a partir de Luhmann para o positivismo jurídico. Um estudo da jurisprudência do Tribunal Constitucional colombiano foi feito desde sua criação até a data da investigação, analisando em quais deles o tribunal constitucional utilizou a teoria Luhmanniana para sustentar sua decisão e de que maneira o fez, constatando que apenas em três sentenças citou-se a teoria de Luhmann; isso indica uma precariedade quanto a sua consideração como teoria "aceita" por quem exerce o direito na Colômbia

Educational development between faculty and administration

This essay employs Identity Theory to explore the professional identities of educational developers, arguing that it is important to pay attention to the different saliences, or weights, that developers attach to the faculty and administrative sides of their identities

Research capacity and initial teacher education reform: Irish experiences, international perspectives

As globalisation intensifies and economies struggle to address ‘austerity’, educational reform continues unabated. In the case of initial teacher education (ITE) the pendulum swings between practice and research with a growing emphasis on teacher educators' expertise. International ITE discourses provide an important context for recent Irish policy and reforms. Against this backdrop, the findings of a systematic study of the research capabilities and activities of ITE faculty are critically analysed and discussed. The evidence indicates a considerable mismatch between policy intentions and teacher educators' current capacities. Policy implications are identified and discussed and their possible significance for other systems considered

Publishing and the academic world: passion, purpose and possible futures

Within the Academy, itself a changing and increasingly entrepreneurial entity, publishing is no longer an option; it is the universal currency that secures a position, tenure and promotion; it is key to academic life. Providing a panoramic picture of the changing publishing climate, "Academic Life and the Publishing Landscape "will empower scholars by enabling them to navigate this changing terrain more successfully. This book provides guidance from a range of contributors who use their own wide expertise in writing and publication to document the challenges faced by scholars at different career stages and in different locations. It covers a wide range of debates on publishing, spilt into the following three sections: Mapping the Publication Landscape, Writing for Publication Learning from Successful Voices, Further Challenges and Possibilities. With topics ranging from the process of preparing manuscripts for publication, including chapters on calculating journal rankings and understanding the Peer Review process, through to chapters on speaking to international audiences and writing for elite international journals, this book offers a unique perspective on how the changing nature of publishing works. This will be a useful guide for scholars across the globe looking to enhance their publication performance, and those questioning what needs to be done in order to understand, navigate and to (re-)position one s self and institution in this increasingly significant and rapidly altering terrain