Training Trajectory Research Articles

Development of knowledge base of intellectual system for support of formal and informal training of IT staff

The choice of educational digital content, according to education goals (descriptors which are formed by competences, labor functions, etc.), becomes an important practical task because of the variety of existing educational online systems that is available to persons within formal, informal IT education formats. Ontologies can form a basis for working out knowledge bases, which are center of intellectual system support in IT specialist training. The paper describes a technology of ontological model creation; analyzes the structure and the content of basic data. The structure of knowledge interrelation of the considered subject and IT education is considered. This knowledge base is applied for solving tasks of educational and methodical supplementation of educational programs of the higher and additional professional education, corporate training; for creating systems of certification and testing for students and practicing experts; for forming individual trajectories of training and career development.

DroNet: Learning to Fly by Driving

Civilian drones are soon expected to be used in a wide variety of tasks, such as aerial surveillance, delivery, or monitoring of existing architectures. Nevertheless, their deployment in urban environments has so far been limited. Indeed, in unstructured and highly dynamic scenarios, drones face numerous challenges to navigate autonomously in a feasible and safe way. In contrast to traditional “map-localize-plan” methods, this letter explores a data-driven approach to cope with the above challenges. To accomplish this, we propose DroNet: a convolutional neural network that can safely drive a drone through the streets of a city. Designed as a fast eight-layers residual network, DroNet produces two outputs for each single input image: A steering angle to keep the drone navigating while avoiding obstacles, and a collision probability to let the UAV recognize dangerous situations and promptly react to them. The challenge is however to collect enough data in an unstructured outdoor environment such as a city. Clearly, having an expert pilot providing training trajectories is not an option given the large amount of data required and, above all, the risk that it involves for other vehicles or pedestrians moving in the streets. Therefore, we propose to train a UAV from data collected by cars and bicycles, which, already integrated into the urban environment, would not endanger other vehicles and pedestrians. Although trained on city streets from the viewpoint of urban vehicles, the navigation policy learned by DroNet is highly generalizable. Indeed, it allows a UAV to successfully fly at relative high altitudes and even in indoor environments, such as parking lots and corridors. To share our findings with the robotics community, we publicly release all our datasets, code, and trained networks.

A three-stage trajectory generation method for robot-assisted bilateral upper limb training with subject-specific adaptation

Robot-assisted bilateral upper limb training typically requires two robotic devices that work cooperatively with a human user. The determination of appropriate movement trajectories is essential to avoid interference of the robotic systems and ensure an appropriate intersecting workspace with user limbs. This paper proposes a new three-stage trajectory generation method for bilateral upper limb training using interference analysis. These three stages include workspace analysis of robots and human hands, trajectory generation within the intersecting workspace, and interference analysis for training safety verification. This trajectory generation method is also implemented with subject-specific adaptation based on anthropometry of an individual. Experiments were conducted on seven healthy subjects with a variety of body sizes. All participants gave positive feedback on the suitability of the predefined training trajectories, and no robot interference was detected. This three-stage method provides guidelines for the standardization of robot-assisted bilateral upper limb training protocols. Future work will focus on proposing an adaptive trajectory generation algorithm with efficacy evaluation on a larger sample of subjects.

Trayectorias formativas y la identidad profesional de futuros profesores de matemática

Recently, the area of initial teacher training has been positioned in light of the societal demands within a field of research that explores he identity constructions that preservice teachers have developed within participation and learning spaces during their training. As part of their training trajectory,future teachers not only develop tasks and knowledge of the discipline but also social relationships that help construct identity orientations that will later affect their professional practice. In this context,this study explores those experiences and events that influence the trajectories and, in turn, the identity construction of a group of pre-service math’s’ teachers from a university in south-central Chile. Adopting a biographical-narrative design, 173 stories of formative experiences were collected through a survey of characterization and through biograms, where the motivations guiding the identity construction of 25 preservice teachers are observed. The results show that the presence of a teacher as a role model and their didactic interventions during the trajectories of these pre-service teachers prompt choices of becoming a professor of mathematics and vocations to be found and reaffirmed.

The Age-Well observational study on expert meditators in the Medit-Ageing European project

IntroductionThe Age-Well observational, cross-sectional study investigates the affective and cognitive mechanisms of meditation expertise with behavioral, neuroimaging, sleep, and biological measures sensitive to aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). MethodsThirty cognitively unimpaired individuals aged 65 years or older with at least 10,000 hours of practice in mindfulness meditation (MM) and loving-kindness and compassion meditation (LKCM) are selected. The outcomes are the neuroimaging brain correlates of MM and LKCM and the assessments of long-term meditation practices on behavioral, neural, and biological measures as compared to nonmeditator older controls from the Age-Well randomized controlled trial. ResultsRecruitment and data collection began in late 2016 and will be completed by late 2019. DiscussionResults are expected to foster the understanding of the effects of meditation expertise on aging and of the mechanisms of action underlying the meditation intervention in the Age-Well randomized controlled trial. These finding will contribute to the design of meditation-based prevention randomized controlled trials for the aged population and to the exploration of the possible long-time developmental trajectory of meditation training.

LEARNING HOW TO WORK IN THE ARTS FIELD IN PORTUGAL: A BIOGRAPHICAL APPROACH TO THE MIGRANT ARTISTS’ TRAJECTORIES

The article considers the key dimensions of the life trajectories of the immigrant artists living in the Lisbon metropolitan area focusing on those related to the socialization process both in formal institutions and in a broader setting of informal learning. The authors conducted a sociological analysis of 20 biographical interviews with a heterogeneous set of individuals, including musicians, dancers and plastic artists. These interviews were a part of the research project on the social trajectories of migrant artists from the non-European Union countries living in Portugal. The results of the analysis show that formal and informal learning together with the migrant experience are intertwined and constitute the key factor in the configuration of migrant trajectories. There is often a mobility pattern across art styles, which makes differences between formal and informal circumstances in the life trajectories of migrant artists evident. Migration has a strong impact on the artistic work; this impact affects different areas of biographical experience: contact with the Portuguese culture, development of ethnic references, and participation in transnational art movements. The condition of immigrant artists generally implies a long trajectory of artistic training, including significant experiences of formal and informal learning in multiple social contexts throughout the life course. For those dedicated to the new transnational urban cultures (hip hop, graffiti, etc.), informal learning is the most important element. For those engaged in the traditional arts, the attendance of lengthy artistic programs seems to be a fundamental prerequisite for training and recognition. Together with the long and significant artists’ investments in their education, the sociological study also revealed the great vulnerability (and precariousness) of their life trajectories, and the lack of structures supporting their access to the labor market.

Career Paths of Pathology Informatics Fellowship Alumni

Background: The alumni of today’s Pathology Informatics and Clinical Informatics fellowships fill diverse roles in academia, large health systems, and industry. The evolving training tracks and curriculum of Pathology Informatics fellowships have been well documented. However, less attention has been given to the posttraining experiences of graduates from informatics training programs. Here, we examine the career paths of subspecialty fellowship-trained pathology informaticians. Methods: Alumni from four Pathology Informatics fellowship training programs were contacted for their voluntary participation in the study. We analyzed various components of training, and the subsequent career paths of Pathology Informatics fellowship alumni using data extracted from alumni provided curriculum vitae. Results: Twenty-three out of twenty-seven alumni contacted contributed to the study. A majority had completed undergraduate study in science, technology, engineering, and math fields and combined track training in anatomic and clinical pathology. Approximately 30% (7/23) completed residency in a program with an in-house Pathology Informatics fellowship. Most completed additional fellowships (15/23) and many also completed advanced degrees (10/23). Common primary posttraining appointments included chief medical informatics officer (3/23), director of Pathology Informatics (10/23), informatics program director (2/23), and various roles in industry (3/23). Many alumni also provide clinical care in addition to their informatics roles (14/23). Pathology Informatics alumni serve on a variety of institutional committees, participate in national informatics organizations, contribute widely to scientific literature, and more than half (13/23) have obtained subspecialty certification in Clinical Informatics to date. Conclusions: Our analysis highlights several interesting phenomena related to the training and career trajectory of Pathology Informatics fellowship alumni. We note the long training track alumni complete in preparation for their careers. We believe flexible training pathways combining informatics and clinical training may help to alleviate the burden. We highlight the importance of in-house Pathology Informatics fellowships in promoting interest in informatics among residents. We also observe the many important leadership roles in academia, large community health systems, and industry available to early career alumni and believe this reflects a strong market for formally trained informaticians. We hope this analysis will be useful as we continue to develop the informatics fellowships to meet the future needs of our trainees and discipline.

Scientists’ engagement in knowledge transfer and exchange: individual factors, variety of mechanisms and users

This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of the individual factors behind scientists' involvement in a wide variety of knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) activities. By doing so, the article addresses three major shortcomings in the literature. First, this article considers scientists' involvement in both formal and informal KTE activities. Secondly, the study focuses not only on KTE activities with the private sector, but also with other types of agents. Thirdly, the article adopts an individual approach to distinguish between three types of KTE predictors: individual capacities, training and career trajectories, and motivations. Overall, the results of the regression model applied to a sample of 1,295 researchers active in the largest public research organization in Spain (CSIC) suggest that, while some individual features are connected to some KTE activities, other individual predictors (e.g. multitasking and interdisciplinarity) are more evenly associated to a variety of KTE mechanisms and users. Based on those findings, the article offers policy recommendations to craft more accurate policies to encourage scientists' KTE engagement.

KVLMM: A Trajectory Prediction Method Based on a Variable-Order Markov Model With Kernel Smoothing

With the dramatic proliferation of global positioning system (GPS) devices, a rich range of research has been conducted on the analysis of GPS trajectories. Research on trajectory prediction uses historical trajectory data to forecast future positions. The typical method is to use a statistical model based on the Markov chain. However, existing models are inefficient in two aspects. The methods of using lower-order Markov models use only current information and ignore historical information, degrading the prediction accuracy. In contrast, higher-order Markov models can improve the prediction accuracy but incur increased time and space complexity. Here, we propose the kernel variable length Markov model (KVLMM), a variable-order Markov model based on kernel smoothing, which combines sequence analysis with the Markov statistical model. The KVLMM can adaptively train trajectory data and learn rules from the training results. When training a large data sample, the KVLMM can rapidly execute training in linearly complex time and space. Moreover, this model uses kernel smoothing when training fewer data samples. In other words, the KVLMM improves the prediction accuracy and reduces the overhead of the data process. Our experimental results show that KVLMM has a lower algorithm complexity and a higher prediction accuracy.

Robotic Restorative Massage to Increase Working Capacity

The possibilities of manipulative robots to perform techniques of restorative massage, increasing the psychophysiological mood of the working population in order to increase the productivity of labor are considered in this article. The robot control making possible to perform a mass preventive massage is offered. Most of the studies were carried out using the so-called force points trained on robots with one-dimensional force training. The more convenient and quick training method by demonstration is proposed. At the same time, the unloading of the masseur’s hand and the accuracy of reproduction of trained trajectories are provided to a much greater degree. The hand of the masseur by means of the massage tool deforms the patient's soft tissues. To teach by the demonstration of spatial trajectories, the robot is in admittance control mode, without resisting the movements of the masseur’s hand, fixed on the robot end link. In admittance control mode, the robot tracks exactly the movements of the masseur’s hands or corrects them with the necessary force. Currently, there are robots with force control, which can organize the required admittance control mode. These robots are not specialized to perform mode massage and are not mass-produced, so they are quite expensive. If the demand increases, the cost would be much lower. Studies that will determine the techniques for performing robotic massage are needed. As an initial basis, methods of manual restorative and sports massage can be taken.

An Approach for Energy-Efficient and Punctual Train Operation via Driver Advisory System

Operational performance of trains in railway system is gaining irresistibly increasing attention with the higher and higher requirements on energy efficiency and punctuality. Improving train operational performance by optimizing train trajectory has been studied for a long time, but few results are presented regarding train drivers' activities, which is an important factor in railway system as the trains are ultimately operated by train drivers. Driver Advisory System (DAS) is becoming more and more concerned in response to the urgent requirements of improving operational performance of railway trains. This paper aims to provide an approach for improving energy efficiency and punctuality of railway trains taking advantage of DAS. A traction-distance-based algorithm for optimizing train trajectory and advisory information is designed, and an experiment platform including train driving simulation and prototype DAS is built to evaluate the proposed approach. Considering both trajectory optimization and train driver's driving activities, this work explores an intelligent approach to improve operational performance of railway trains, and will undoubtedly be meaningful in leading to better energy economization and on-time performance of railway system.

Jazz education in Western Switzerland in the 1970s and 1980s

This article aims to complement the understanding of the implementation, expansion, and formalisation of jazz education as well as of how jazz was learnt and taught in the 1970s and 1980s in the Western, French-speaking, part of Switzerland. Focussing on this specific geographical context, it takes a close look at the transition from traditional, informal learning to what are considered as more formal realms of learning in jazz education. Drawing both on documentary analysis and in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with former students, directors, and teachers of the first jazz schools and jazz departments, it provides a description of the Swiss jazz educational landscape at its beginnings. Two educational models that emerged are compared in the light of the formal-informal spectrum. Finally, the music training trajectories of nine students who attended the newly created settings for jazz learning are analysed. Special attention is given to learning practices, skills transfer and the processes of access to and appropriation of music learning environments. These analyses provide evidence of the flexibility and shifting character of organisational boundaries and educational practices during the implementation of new patterns of music learning.

Elementos para la elaboración de un currículo informacional y documental: desplazamientos y desafíos digitales / Some issues on the building of an information and documentation curriculum: displacements and digital challenges

Abstract
 The project for the creation of an information and documentation curriculum covers the training trajectory of the student and the student from the elementary school to the university. Twelve basic to develop an informational and documentary curriculum from the definition of information literacy terms, streamlining and systematization of its contents, progressive ways of teaching, learning sequential planning, formalizing school knowledge objects are exposed, the aims and objectives of information relating to information technology and communication, information activities, skills teaching and learning, teacher training, relationship with other disciplines, functions of evaluation. It is concluded that the issue of a global education for a culture of information and media remains more than ever crucial. But the challenge and the urgency of training students and students for an information culture should not take the importance out of research on these issues. In the perspective of a info-documentary curriculum, the relations, already close and between the field or didactic field and that of the research, will necessarily be reinforced and deepened.

Do Individual Differences Predict Change in Cognitive Training Performance? A Latent Growth Curve Modeling Approach

Cognitive training interventions have become increasingly popular as a potential means to cost-efficiently stabilize or enhance cognitive functioning across the lifespan. Large training improvements have been consistently reported on the group level, with, however, large differences on the individual level. Identifying the factors contributing to these individual differences could allow for developing individually tailored interventions to boost training gains. In this study, we therefore examined a range of individual differences variables that had been discussed in the literature to potentially predict training performance. To estimate and predict individual differences in the training trajectories, we applied Latent Growth Curve models to existing data from three working memory training interventions with younger and older adults. However, we found that individual differences in demographic variables, real-world cognition, motivation, cognition-related beliefs, personality, leisure activities, and computer literacy and training experience were largely unrelated to change in training performance. Solely baseline cognitive performance was substantially related to change in training performance and particularly so in young adults, with individuals with higher baseline performance showing the largest gains. Thus, our results conform to magnification accounts of cognitive change.

Het buitenkerkelijke succes van de christelijke zielzorg

This article considers contemporary spiritual care in the Netherlands as the result of a development that started off with ecclesial initiatives. Through ecumenical cooperation, establishing a common professional organization, and initiating specialized training trajectories, priests, pastoral workers, ministers, rabbis, and humanistic counsellors have contributed to the development of a separate profession: spiritual care. Often these ‘new style’ chaplains work outside their own denomination. What started as an ecclesial service to patients, soldiers, and inmates has evolved into a new, precarious profession, sometimes only loosely connected with organized religion. Rather than an instance, however, of secularization or of a spiritual revolution, this persistence of the care of souls is regarded as a successful dissemination of the ecclesial tradition in the secular domain against the background of liquid modernity.

Training, labour and migratory trajectories of skilled Romanians in Spain: key elements explaining successful careers

Based on a qualitative approach (30 biographical interviews and 30 life satisfaction charts), this paper aims to frame the intra-EU skilled migration patterns into the life course perspective. In addressing this broad aim, the paper focuses on reconstructing the training, labour and migratory trajectories of skilled Romanians with tertiary education acquired in Romania, with previous labour trajectories in Romania, working in Barcelona’s IT, financial and business sectors. By shaping these life trajectories from a retrospective perspective, the paper offers key elements in explaining successful training, labour and migratory careers taking into account the following principles: agency; time and space; life-span development, and the principle of linked lives.

Effects of a data-based decision making intervention on student achievement

Data-based decision making (DBDM) is becoming important for teachers due to increasing amounts of digital feedback on student performance. In the quasi-experimental study reported here, teachers, principals, and academic coaches from 42 schools were trained for two years in using the results of half-year interim assessments for providing students with tailor-made instruction. Our results did not show any main effects of this DBDM training trajectory on student achievement but did indicate interaction effects with students’ low prior achievement levels and socioeconomic status. Teachers experience difficulties in translating student progress data into adaptive instruction in the classroom. Implications of our findings for teacher professionalization are discussed.

Implementing the ICF in Occupational Health; building a curriculum as an exemplary case.

This paper addresses the need for a paradigm shift from post-diagnosis tertiary care towards maintenance and promotion of health across the lifespan, for healthcare in general and in occupational healthcare specifically. It is based on the assumption that the realization of this paradigm shift may be facilitated by teaching (future) occupational health professionals to use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Describing the development of a an ICF based occupational health curriculum. Grafting a training trajectory in the ICF for educating the biopsychosocial health paradigm, onto a training trajectory in the Critical Appraisal of a Topic (CAT), a method for teaching evidence based practice skills. The development process of the training trajectories in the master program Work, Health, and Career at Maastricht University is described as an example of an intervention for shifting the paradigm in healthcare curricula. The expected results are a shift from the biomedical towards the biopsychosocial paradigm, a reductionist approach towards a more holistic view on cases, a reactive way of working towards a more proactive work style, and from using a merely quantifiable evidence base towards using a broad evidence base. Incorporating the biopsychosocial paradigm into the assessment and scientific reasoning skills of students is not only valuable in occupational healthcare but might be a valuable approach for all disciplines in healthcare for which contextual factors are important e.g. rehabilitation, psychiatry and nutritional science.

Mitigation Techniques to Reduce the Vulnerability of Railway Signaling to Radiated Intentional EMI Emitted From a Train

This paper evaluates several techniques capable of mitigating the impact of low-power radio frequency jammers that interfere with ground-to-train communications. These radio communications are used for railway signaling, and interfering with these signals can have a negative impact on the train operation. Although the commercialization, detention, and use of radiofrequency jammers is strictly forbidden in most countries, they can be easily found on the internet at low cost and unexpectedly switched on by a passenger in a moving train. In this paper, we evaluate and compare the ground-to-train radio communication and intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) received signal powers delivered by roof train antennas to the train control command receiver. This comparison is used to deduce the potential zones of interference along the train trajectory and its consequences. Operating at the physical layer, we then propose and evaluate three mitigations techniques that can be used separately or combined to reduce the impact of this type of interference. We show that they can significantly reduce the jamming capability and help us in maintaining railway full operation.

Implementation of control system and software design for limbs rehabilitation training based on PCI-1240

This article presents the design of a motion control system for seated lower-limb rehabilitation training. The system is composed of lower limb exoskeleton, motor drive circuit, program of motion control, and so forth. The power of lower limbs joints is provided by six motors. The PCI-1240 motion control card is used as the core. This study achieved repetitive rotation training and gait trajectory training of lower limbs joints, of which the velocity, angle and time can be accurately controlled and adjusted. The experimental results showed that the motion control system can meet the requirement of repetitive rehabilitation training for patients with lower limb dysfunction. This article provides a new method to the research of motion control system in rehabilitation training, which can promote industrial automation technique to be used for health care, and conducive to the further study of the rehabilitation robot.