The Impact of Brain Research on the Education Profession: Agents of Change

In recent years, an explosion of interest in neuroscience has led to the development of "Neuro-law," a new multidisciplinary field of knowledge whose aim is to examine the impact and role of neuroscientific findings in legal proceedings. Neuroscientific evidence is increasingly being used in US and European courts in criminal trials, as part of psychiatric testimony, nourishing the debate about the legal implications of brain research in psychiatric-legal settings.In this paper, we aim to examine the impact of Neuroscientific evidence in the assessment of criminal responsibility. We start with a brief historical survey of the relation between brain sciences and criminal law. We then present two criminal cases in the context of which neuroimaging techniques were introduced as evidence of diminished responsibility or irresponsibility and continue with a presentation of some significant limitations and difficulties that neuroscience faces in the assessment of penal responsibility. These limitations are scientific, legal but also of philosophical and conceptual nature.We conclude that addressing moral or legal responsibility might depend on scientific data, but requires entry to very different conceptual domains. The legal system cannot delegate to another field, scientific or otherwise, the ascription of legal meaning. Neuroscientific data, however accurate and reliable they may become in the future, cannot contribute to the assessment of criminal responsibility, unless they are contextualised and completed -or even confronted- with data collected on other levels of analysis, in particular on a psychological, anamnestic, sociological and economic level. Neurosciences, as sciences, can offer functioning and biological models of behaviours, while the assignment of responsibility is a normative issue. Although neuroscientific evidence can provide assistance in the evaluation of penal responsibility by introducing new determinisms in the behavioural analysis of offenders with mental disturbances, it does not dispense with the need to define the limits of responsibility and irresponsibility of the accused. This analysis, while it needs to take account of social, moral and political factors - in addition to elements contributed by experts - ultimately belongs to the legal sphere.

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Investigation of Stress Wave Propagation in Brain Tissues Through the Use of Finite Element Method

Volume 2: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering ◽

10.1115/imece2010-39994 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Biaobiao Zhang ◽

W. Steve Shepard ◽

Candace L. Floyd

Keyword(s):

Finite Element ◽

Wave Propagation ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Stress Wave ◽

Brain Research ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Stress Wave Propagation ◽

Wave Loads ◽

The Impact ◽

The Brain

Because axons serve as the conduit for signal transmission within the brain, research related to axon damage during brain injury has received much attention in recent years. Although myelinated axons appear as a uniform white matter, the complex structure of axons has not been thoroughly considered in the study of fundamental structural injury mechanisms. Most axons are surrounded by an insulating sheath of myelin. Furthermore, hollow tube-like microtubules provide a form of structural support as well as a means for transport within the axon. In this work, the effects of microtubule and its surrounding protein mediums inside the axon structure are considered in order to obtain a better understanding of wave propagation within the axon in an attempt to make progress in this area of brain injury modeling. By examining axial wave propagation using a simplified finite element model to represent microtubule and its surrounding proteins assembly, the impact caused by stress wave loads within the brain axon structure can be better understood. Through conducting a transient analysis as the wave propagates, some important characteristics relative to brain tissue injuries are studied.

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Hope in the Unexpected: How Can Teachers Still Make a Difference in the World?

Teachers College Record ◽

10.1177/016146811011200206 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 112 (2) ◽

pp. 386-406

Author(s):

Julian Edgoose

Keyword(s):

Social Change ◽

Research Question ◽

Focused Attention ◽

The World ◽

Agents Of Change ◽

Hard Times ◽

The Impact ◽

Background Context ◽

Objective Research

Background/Context The central role of hope in teaching has long been acknowledged by authors such as Sonia Nieto and Larry Cuban, but hope has received little focused attention from scholars. This article seeks to compare multiple understandings of hope to examine how teachers can find hope in times of global crises that challenge the promise of a better future that is implicit in modern schooling. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study How can teachers find hope in hard times, when the usual promise of schools for a better future seems difficult to sustain? Research Design This article is an analytic essay. Conclusions/Recommendations This article concludes that while the long-dominant understandings of hope are inadequate for many teachers at times like these, Arendt's view of the hope that emerges in the unexpected occurrences of classroom life resonates strongly with the most rewarding and hopeful experiences of many teachers. Yet Arendt explains how the hope that teachers experience from these unpredictable and unexpected occurrences is not just a source of immediate reward, but rather contributes to political and social change. The article concludes with an account of Arendt's critique of historians’ narratives of social change and an affirmation of the impact that teachers can have as agents of change.

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Early Adversity and Neurodevelopment

Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies - Strengthening School Counselor Advocacy and Practice for Important Populations and Difficult Topics ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-7319-8.ch017 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 315-336

Author(s):

Raissa Miller

Keyword(s):

Brain Research ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Early Adversity ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Practical Applications ◽

School Based ◽

Neuroscience Research ◽

Adverse Childhood ◽

Early Life Events ◽

The Impact

This chapter addresses the impact of early childhood adversity on the developing brain and nervous system. The author provides a critical review of the Adverse Childhood Experiences study and expands the concept of early adversity to include systemic and environmental stressors and a focus on resilience in addition to potential pathology. Particular focus is given to reviewing contemporary neuroscience research on the influence of negative early life events, including impacts on brain structure, function, connectivity, epigenetic processes, and inflammation. The author identifies overarching findings while also acknowledging limitations of the current science and the difficulties inherent in practitioners' translating primary brain research into school-based interventions. Some ideas for practical applications of the science are provided.

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Agents of Change: the Impact of Intelligent Agent Technology on the Analysis of Air Operations

Advances in Intelligent Systems for Defence ◽

10.1142/9789812776341_0006 ◽

2002 ◽

pp. 229-268 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. Heinze ◽

M. Cross ◽

S. Goss ◽

T. Josefsson ◽

I. Lloyd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intelligent Agent ◽

Agent Technology ◽

Agents Of Change ◽

The Impact

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Comparison of Multiscale Imaging Methods for Brain Research

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9061377 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1377

Author(s):

Jessica Tröger ◽

Christian Hoischen ◽

Birgit Perner ◽

Shamci Monajembashi ◽

Aurélien Barbotin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adaptive Optics ◽

Brain Research ◽

Super Resolution ◽

Synaptic Proteins ◽

Physiological Status ◽

Basic Set ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Quantitative Manner ◽

The Impact ◽

The Brain

A major challenge in neuroscience is how to study structural alterations in the brain. Even small changes in synaptic composition could have severe outcomes for body functions. Many neuropathological diseases are attributable to disorganization of particular synaptic proteins. Yet, to detect and comprehensively describe and evaluate such often rather subtle deviations from the normal physiological status in a detailed and quantitative manner is very challenging. Here, we have compared side-by-side several commercially available light microscopes for their suitability in visualizing synaptic components in larger parts of the brain at low resolution, at extended resolution as well as at super-resolution. Microscopic technologies included stereo, widefield, deconvolution, confocal, and super-resolution set-ups. We also analyzed the impact of adaptive optics, a motorized objective correction collar and CUDA graphics card technology on imaging quality and acquisition speed. Our observations evaluate a basic set of techniques, which allow for multi-color brain imaging from centimeter to nanometer scales. The comparative multi-modal strategy we established can be used as a guide for researchers to select the most appropriate light microscopy method in addressing specific questions in brain research, and we also give insights into recent developments such as optical aberration corrections.

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Auditors General ' s impact on administrations: a pan-Canadian study (2001-2011)

Managerial Auditing Journal ◽

10.1108/maj-10-2013-0948 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 395-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Danielle Morin

Keyword(s):

Executive Branch ◽

Organizational Memory ◽

Added Value ◽

Organizational Life ◽

Content Type ◽

Agents Of Change ◽

Real Value ◽

The Will ◽

Influence Attempts ◽

The Impact

Purpose – The influence that Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) exert on management of administrations through performance audits has been examined very little and questioned even less. This study of the impact of Auditors General (AG) on management of six Canadian administrations for the 2001-2011 period aims to highlight the auditors ' successes and the limits imposed on them in their role of agents of change for administrations. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was sent out to a total of 125 respondents identified by the authorities of the targeted organizations. Eighty-seven usable questionnaires were completed (70% response rate). Findings – AG appear to influence the organizational life of Canadian entities to a moderate extent. The figures suggest that auditors do exert an influence on the organizations audited, but their influence attempts fail fairly often. Indirect powers to reward and punish conferred on AG by their institutional status are conditioned not only by the will of the central and political authorities of the entities audited but also by the will and capacity of parliamentarians to assume real control over the executive branch. One explanation for this mitigated influence is that the “obligatory reverence” that SAIs inspire in administrations masks the real value that auditees perceive in auditors ' work. Research limitations/implications – Given the ten-year period that the study covered, it had to deal with the mortality of respondents and the loss of organizational memory. Practical implications – The study gives insights about the auditees ' recognition regarding the auditors ' added value to administrations through their performance audits. Originality/value – This paper fulfils an identified need for further empirical research on AG ' s impact on administrations through their performance audits.

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Partners, Neighbors, and Friends: The Practice of a Place-Based Education

Practicing Anthropology ◽

10.17730/praa.23.2.f2j7714442238q77 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 19-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Talmage Stanley ◽

Stephen Fisher

Keyword(s):

Public Policy ◽

Social Justice ◽

Social Change ◽

Service Learning ◽

Community Service ◽

Systematic Study ◽

Agents Of Change ◽

Public Ethics ◽

Place Based Education ◽

The Impact

At Emory and Henry College, our vision for a place-based education integrating service with learning led in 1996, to the approval of the creation of a new major in Public Policy and Community Service. A rigorous and interdisciplinary service learning major, all of its courses are designed to help students better understand the impact of local, regional, national, and global structures and institutions on social change. As the curriculum evolves, we are institutionalizing in it a systematic study of several primary conceptual themes: citizenship, service, religion, public ethics, cultural diversity, public policy, place-based politics, social justice, and social change. The program aims to empower students by enabling them 110t only to understand critically the necessity and processes of social change but also to become agents of change in Southwest Virginia, Appalachia, and beyond, while they are students.

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Effective Mentoring to Improve Job Satisfaction among Beginner Teachers at South African Primary Schools

Research in Social Sciences and Technology ◽

10.46303/ressat.2021.26 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 64-81

Author(s):

R. J. Nico Botha ◽

Jean-Pierre Hugo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Job Satisfaction ◽

Student Teachers ◽

South African ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Job Dissatisfaction ◽

Mentoring Program ◽

Education Profession ◽

Beginner Teachers ◽

The Impact

Teachers leaving the profession before age of retirement is an ongoing problem in schools worldwide. While fewer teachers enter the profession each year, the number of teachers leaving the profession has increased. Many teachers listed lack of job satisfaction as a reason for leaving the education profession, while citing the lack of mentoring as a main cause of job dissatisfaction. This study explores the impact of an effective mentoring program at primary schools in the province of Mpumalanga, South Africa to support and improve job satisfaction among beginner teachers entering the profession. This study follows a quantitative approach, consisting of a Likert-scale questionnaire. The sample of the study was a number of 550 teachers (principals, deputy principals, heads of department, teachers and student teachers) from different races and cultures from 50 randomly selected state and private primary schools in Mpumalanga. After comparing the literature with the respondents' data, the researchers found that the development and implementation of a mentoring program in the province of Mpumalanga would positively impacts beginner teachers' job satisfaction, thus indicating a definite need for such a mentoring program.

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