Defining Local Food

Purpose: The benefits of local food are multiple and can include environmental, economic, social and community as well as health that are in many ways related to sustainability. Consumers, producers and retailers that make up the local food system can each have a different and conflicting perspective conceptualising local food yet limited studies have simultaneously attempted to communicate all three stakeholders’ perspectives of local food. To recommend a literature-based framework to investigate the definition of local food from the perspectives of consumers, producers, and retailers. Furthermore, to propose a methodology with which to investigate said framework. Approach: A review of the literature to address the twin purposes of the paper was undertaken. Findings: Eriksen’s (2013) three domains of proximity is proposed as a framework with which to investigate the meaning of local food. Eriksen (2013, p.51) outlines that “local food can be understood in terms of three domains of proximity: geographical proximity, relational proximity, and values of proximity” where proximity refers to “… nearness in space, time or relationship …”. A qualitative constructivist methodology is recommended to construct meaning from the multiple realities of the multiple participants of the local food system. Implications: This paper offers a framework and methodology to investigate the definition of local food from a multi stakeholder perspective. Enhanced clarity in defining local food could minimise risks of misunderstandings between the different stakeholders, help further local food system development and enable a more efficient response to consumer desires

Advanced Nurse Practitioners Actualising, Adopting, Integrating and Championing Digital Transformation.

Background In their digital health capability framework, the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director outlined the vital role that nurses and midwives will play in advocating, planning and implementing digital health. Similarly, the Department of Health Report of the Expert Body on Nursing and Midwifery identifies that nurses and midwives are among the crucial elements in the understanding, development and demonstration of digital technology in clinical practice. Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP’s) can lead by using their unique strategic operational position to actualise, adopt, integrate, champion and drive digital technologies in clinical practice. Purpose To discuss the lived experience of two Advanced Nurse Practitioners in driving digital transformation in healthcare and map an evolving skillset. Discussion Digital technologies can be utilised in several ways such as capturing digital data to improve health research, joining up provision between services and improving patients' self-management of conditions to influence health outcomes. Paradoxically, despite the noted advantages and recent impetus of digital technology in clinical practice, the actualising, implementation and integration remains stagnant. There are six core competencies of Advanced Nursing Practice in Ireland; Professional Values and Conduct, Management and Team Competence, Clinical-Decision Making, Knowledge and Cognitive Competence, Communication and Interpersonal Competence and Leadership and Professional Scholarship. Lockwood describes four themes in relation to ANP clinical autonomy- “stepping up”, “living it”, “bounce-back ability” and “setting in motion”, we have used these themes to guide our discussion and reflection. We acknowledge both the importance and relevance of the six core competencies of Advanced Nursing Practice in this project however, we propose that based on our experience and learning that fundamental to the adoption of digital health in clinical practice it is imperative that ANP’s develop a further skillset which encompasses digital expertise, foresight, innovation and entrepreneurship. Conclusion There is limited reference to the academic preparation required within the current ANP education programme to adopt and integrate digital technology in clinical practice. To prepare candidates to actualise, adopt, integrate, champion and drive digital health in clinical practice we propose the integration of the identified digital health skillset as competencies in post-graduate advanced nurse practice education curriculum

Digitising Wound Assessment, Management, Documentation within an Irish Public Health Nurse Setting- a Proof of Concept Evaluation.

Background • The advanced nurse practitioners (clinical leads) identified variations in wound care assessment and documentation including inconsistent approach to wound care and assessment, no continuity of care, poor wound care knowledge, limited access to measuring equipment and subjective documentation of wound care through prevalence studies and research • These findings were in contrast to the recommended wound assessment and documentation advocated in the Irish National Wound Care Guidelines (HSE, 2018). • Both clinical leads were working in 2 large rural geographical areas in the eastern region of Ireland with limited access to tissue viability, vascular and dermatology services all of which were hospital based. • A key challenge was the lack of a standardised objective wound assessment and documentation tool that could provide the transfer of patient assessment, management and progress across care settings such a solution would provide a a seamless and quality driven wound care service. • The clinical leads recognised that the implementation of a digital technology solution could provide an effective, efficient and value driven approach to wound imaging, wound documentation and wound consultations. Aim: • Facilitate efficient, reliable digital wound imaging, wound measurement and digital monitoring of chronic and acute wound progress on one data platform to provide clinicians access to real time wound status data. Objectives: • Procure a digital solution that supports system-wide evidence based wound care. • Evaluate the suitability for expanding the concept of digital wound assessment for wider adoption Methods: 8 steps in the proof of concept • Ideation • Clinical Leadership and Governance • Innovation funding • Business Planning including market engagement • Organisational preparedness, planning and preparation • Training and support • Implementation • Evaluation Outcome/Results of the initiative: • Questionnaires were developed for data collection and they were administered via a digital survey platform providing anonymous and self-reported data from the participants. • The pre-intervention questionnaire established a baseline of current practice in relation to wound assessment and documentation. It also provided us with staffs’ accessibility to and confidence with the current digital technology available in their work place. • The post -evaluation questionnaire captured both qualitative and quantitative data which measured the usability and feasibility of the digital solution in clinical practice 67% of staff reported that the input of assessment information on the digital app was easy. Further benefits reported included 83% of users reporting that the digital application improved continuity of care, enhanced their communication with fellow clinicians and more notably patients, improved their documentation and had a positive impact on their clinical workflo

Intra-Day and Inter-Day Reliability and Usefulness of Performance, Kinetic and Kinematic Variables during Drop Jumping in Hurling Players

The aim of this study was to estimate the intra-day and inter-day reliability and usefulness of performance (Jump height (JH), ground contact time (GCT) and reactive strength index (RSI)), kinetic (force, power, eccentric rate of force development [E-RFD] and leg stiffness [LS]) and kinematic (velocity) variables during drop jumping (DJ) in hurling players. Seventeen (n = 17; mean ± SD; age = 23.35 ± 5.78 years, height = 178.35 ± 6.30 cm, body mass = 78.62 ± 8.06 kg) male club-level hurling players completed two maximal DJs from 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50 and 0.60 m drop heights on three testing days separated by 5–9 days of rest. Reliability was assessed using the coefficient of variation percentage (CV% ≤ 15%) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC > 0.70). For intra-day reliability, GCT (0.40 m, 0.50 m and 0.60 m), peak force (absolute and relative) (0.40 m and 0.50 m) and leg stiffness (0.40 m and 0.50 m) were found to be unreliable (ICC = 0.32–0.68 and CV% = 3.67–11.83%) from those specific drop heights. All other variables were found to be reliable (ICC = 0.72–0.98 and CV% = 1.07–14.02%) intra-day. All variables were found to be reliable (ICC = 0.72–0.96 and CV% = 2.57–14.68%) inter-day except for relative peak force and absolute and relative eccentric RFD (0.30 m and 0.40 m) (ICC = 0.68–0.90 and CV% = 7.76–16.47%). Practitioners have multiple reliable DJ performance, kinetic and kinematic variables for performance testing and training purposes

Le Cheile (together) : Developing a Culture of Sustainability and Collaboration through Inclusive Internationalisation in Irish Higher Education

Initially an introspective state, Ireland has become increasingly outward-looking since joining the European Economic Community, now the EU, in 1973. When the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 were launched in 2015, the UN emphasised that Global Citizenship Education would be a catalyst to achieving them. The Irish Government’s recently published strategy on the internationalisation of education, Global Citizens 2030: Ireland's International Talent and Innovation Strategy, and its two predecessors, are testament to this global perspective, and the belief that internationalisation is at the heart of Global Citizenship Education. There has been a plethora of literature over the last thirty years highlighting the benefits of engaging in internationalisation activities. For example, in addition to enhancing graduate employability and the global reputation of participating higher education institutions (HEIs), partaking in internationalisation activities provides access to alternative perspectives, improves adaptability and problem-solving, and increases understanding of global challenges. The Irish Government recognise this, as is reflected in the national international education strategy documents. Meanwhile, attending to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) has also become a key focus of Irish HE, with dedicated teams and vice-presidents put in place to imbed EDI policies and practices in our HEIs. Unfortunately, however, this has resulted in internationalisation, EDI, and sustainability becoming viewed in Irish HE as competing priorities, when in fact they each lend to the other, and should be approached collaboratively. Where internationalisation activities, such as study abroad and student exchange, have seemed prohibitive to many, taking an inclusive approach to internationalisation will ensure that Irish HEIs produce interculturally competent and open-minded global citizen graduates, capable of addressing the world’s grand challenges such as climate change, access to education, and health and well-being. This poster presents my research on inclusive internationalisation in Irish higher education and how it is central to achieving sustainability goals

Pre- and post-weaning nutritional and management strategies to increase piglet growth and reduce antimicrobial usage

The objectives of this thesis were to (1) investigate the application of split-suckling with/without postpartum provision of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to the sow on colostrum intake in suckling pigs and on lifetime growth, health, and medicinal usage in pigs; (2) determine the effect of providing a dry pelleted starter diet, a liquid milk replacer, and a liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet to suckling pigs, (3) assess the effect of 1% L-glutamine or enzyme supplementation of liquid creep feed and (4) determine the effect of post-weaning supplementary milk and/or dietary inclusion of 1% L-glutamine; on lifetime growth, health and medicinal usage in pigs. A single injection of meloxicam provided to sows post-partum reduced clinical cases of disease, tended to reduce medication usage in piglets and increased growth in pigs during the suckling and early post-weaning periods, and carcass weight at slaughter. This was most likely due to an increase in colostrum intake. No benefits were observed for split-suckling. Supplementing suckling piglets with liquid milk replacer or dry pelleted starter diet increased growth up to weaning but the benefit did not persist to slaughter. L-glutamine- or enzyme-supplemented liquid creep feed did not improve lifetime growth in pigs; in fact, L-glutamine tended to decrease weaning weight and to increase diarrhoea prevalence. As a post-weaning strategy, supplementing pigs with liquid milk replacer for 10 days post-weaning increased feed intake and improved small intestinal morphology, leading to increased slaughter weight. It also increased abundance of beneficial faecal bacteria and decreased expression of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, L-glutamine supplementation in liquid milk replacer post-weaning had no benefits. Furthermore, supplementing suckling or early-weaned pigs with a liquid diet with/without feed additives (L-glutamine or enzymes) did not influence medicinal usage

Tame, Wicked, and Aporetic Problems in Design

The article elucidates a type of problem Rittel and Webber did not acknowledge. The underlying assumption about tame and wicked problems is that they are mutually exclusive (any problem can be either wicked or tame but cannot be both or partially wicked and partially tame). Another assumption is that this distinction is comprehensively exhaustive (there can be no other types of problems). My analysis reveals that precisely the opposite stands. By situating a different problem within their distinction, I demonstrate that some problems have properties of both tame and wicked problems and that some problems are neither wicked nor tame but aporetic. Aporia is a perplexing state of mind and an intractable problem consisting of equally plausible but mutually exclusive propositions. It depicts a situation when we discover equally good reasons to think two or more contradictory things. That overcommits us to conflicting theses and prevents us from accepting them jointly. Aporia is either a triggering or a stopping device in an inquiry, or both. The significance of including aporetic problems in the nomenclature of design problems has far-reaching consequences for understanding the nature of design problems and knowledge and design practice

Progress on Integrating Quantum Communications in Optical Systems Testbeds

Experimental methods are being developed to enable quantum communication systems research in testbeds. We describe testbed architectures for emerging quantum technologies and how they can integrate with existing fibre optical testbeds, specifically OpenIreland

Pushing Boundaries through Borderless Education- The Power of Internationalisation at Home : Preparing for the Changing Context of Higher Education in Ireland

This poster aims to captivate a broader audience and shed light on a ground-breaking research project focused on the untapped potential of Internationalisation at Home (IaH). It explores how this innovative approach pushes the boundaries of conventional learning methods. The poster effectively utilises an 'IaH funnel' as a compelling visual metaphor to depict the research project's journey and its intended outcomes. The funnel illustrates the transformative process of integrating internationalisation into the curriculum, thereby enriching the learning experience. The impact section of the poster showcases a cup with a globe depicted as a tea bag, symbolising the infusion of internationalisation into the Irish Higher Education system. This imagery effectively conveys the positive effects and benefits that arise from embracing IaH. By disseminating the significance of IaH through this thought-provoking poster, the research team endeavors to raise awareness about the potential of borderless education and inspire a wider audience to explore new horizons in education