Lifting the lid: a clinical audit on commode cleaning

Many healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are preventable by infection control procedures designed to interrupt the transmission of organisms from a source. Commodes are in use constantly throughout healthcare facilities. Therefore commode surfaces are constantly handled, and any pathogens present have the potential to be transferred to not only other surfaces but also, more importantly, to patients, thus compromising patient safety. In order to examine the effectiveness and thoroughness of cleaning commodes an audit was undertaken to assess compliance with evidence-based practice. This audit demonstrates a cycle which includes defining best practice, implementing best practice, monitoring best practice and taking action to improve practice. The audit results confirmed an issue that the authors had long suspected. That is, that commodes allocated to individual patients are not always cleaned after every use. Using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence as an indicator of organic soiling also demonstrated that commodes that were considered clean were not always cleaned to a high standard. Implementing the audit recommendations improves staff knowledge through education, standardises cleaning procedures and ultimately improves patient safety

An Introduction to Immersive Reality

Immersive reality (XR) encompasses the spectrum of enhancing learning through augmented reality to virtual reality. Although there has been much hype around the transformative potential of AR and VR the adoption of these technologies in higher education learning environments has been limited (Cochrane, 2016). With a lack of models of how to integrate XR in higher education AR has fallen into the trough of disillusionment on the Gartner hype cycle for emerging technologies 2018, while VR is on the ‘slope of enlightenment’ (Daniel, 2018). In response, this workshop will provide participants with a hands on experience of creating their own simple immersive reality scenario using the web-based VR platform SeekBeak (https://seekbeak.com). The workshop is a generic version of a workshop run with Journalism students that introduced them to the concepts of immersive journalism practice and the implications for immersive storytelling (Sissons & Cochrane, 2019a, 2019b). The workshop will introduce participants to the state of the art of immersive journalism, and demonstrate a BYOD approach to user-generated virtual reality in higher education as a model of integrating authentic learning within the curriculum.   Schedule (100 mins) Introductions (5 min) Participant survey (5 min) Introduction to 360 video and VR (10 min) XR Journalism examples Demo of initial Media Centre VR https://seekbeak.com/v/kvPq47DpjAw (5 min) VR project development (60 min) Google Cardboard Headsets, using participants’ own smartphones Introduction to the Toolkit Participants create SeekBeak accounts Hands on with the 360 cameras Participants choose a topic to work on as a mobile VR production team Sharing and review of participant projects(participants share SeekBeak links) (10 min) Reflections via brief SurveyMonkey survey, and sharing of project URLs and reflections via Twitter and the #SOTELNZ hashtag (5 min) END References   Cochrane, T. (2016). Mobile VR in Education: From the Fringe to the Mainstream. International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning (IJMBL), 8(4), 45-61. doi:10.4018/IJMBL.2016100104 Daniel, E. (2018, 21 August 2018). Gartner hype cycle 2018: Mixed reality to overtake VR and AR. Retrieved from https://www.verdict.co.uk/gartner-hype-cycle-2018-mixed-reality/ Sissons, H., & Cochrane, T. (2019a, 22 November). Immersive Journalism: Playing with Virtual Reality. Paper presented at the AUT Teaching and Learning Conference: Authentic Assessment - Time to Get Real?, Auckland University of Technology. Sissons, H., & Cochrane, T. (2019b). Newsroom Production: XRJournalism Workshop. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/XRJournalis

PJTEL Editorial 2019-2021

In this first editorial for the Pacific Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning, PJTEL, the lead editors reflect upon the first three years of the journal and explore the impact statistics. We also explore future directions and themes for the journal particularly in light of the impact of COVID19 on education

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

The reliability of evidence review methodology in environmental science and conservation

Given the proliferation of primary research articles, the importance of reliable environmental evidence reviews for informing policy and management decisions is increasing. Although conducting reviews is an efficient method of synthesising the fragmented primary evidence base, reviews that are of poor methodological reliability have the potential to misinform by not accurately reflecting the available evidence base. To assess the current value of evidence reviews for decision-making we appraised a systematic sample of articles published in early 2015 (N = 92) using the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence Synthesis Assessment Tool (CEESAT). CEESAT assesses the methodology of policy-relevant evidence reviews according to elements important for objectivity, transparency and comprehensiveness. Overall, reviews performed poorly with a median score of 2.5/39 and a modal score of zero (range 0–30, mean 5.8), and low scores were ubiquitous across subject areas. In general, reviews that applied meta-analytical techniques achieved higher scores than narrative syntheses (median 18.3 and 2.0 respectively), as a result of the latter consistently failing to adequately report methodology or how conclusions were drawn. However, some narrative syntheses achieved high scores, illustrating that the reliability of reviews should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Given the potential importance of reviews for informing management and policy, as well as research, it is vital that overall methodological reliability is improved. Although the increasing number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses highlight that some progress is being made, our findings suggest little or no improvement in the last decade. To motivate progress, we recommend that an annual assessment of the methodological reliability of evidence reviews be conducted. To better serve the environmental policy and management communities we identify a requirement for independent critical appraisal of review methodology thus enabling decision-makers to select reviews that are most likely to accurately reflect the evidence base

The Effectiveness of Technology-Mediated Dance Interventions and Their Impact on Psychosocial Factors in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Engaging in physical activity contributes to healthy aging; however, adherence to exercise programs is often low among older adults. Technology-mediated dance systems, which can be used at home, and dance as a way of keeping physically active have been receiving attention as a means of not only enabling physical activity among older people but may also address key psychosocial factors that are amenable to change. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of technology-mediated dance interventions and their impact on psychosocial factors in older adults (aged 65 or older). Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials from January 2000 to February 2017 using key search terms. Two independent reviewers screened articles using predetermined selection criteria. Risk of bias of selected articles was assessed in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines. Results: From an overall 264 articles, six articles (ve studies) were found, which assessed the impact of technology-mediated dance interventions on psychosocial factors in older adults. Studies' quality ratings were low, with exception of one study that was considered of moderate quality. None of the studies considered psychosocial factors as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes assessed fear of falling, depression, and training enjoyment, but no study showed evidence of an effective impact on these variables. The meta-analysis revealed low quality evidence that there was little or no difference above that of the comparison groups for fear of falling (standardized mean difference [SMD] −0.02, 95% condence interval [CI] −0.37 to 0.33; P = 0.91; ve trials). Similarly, there was little or no difference on depression (SMD −0.06, 95% CI −0.59 to 0.47; P = 0.83; three trials). Conclusion: Existing evidence to support the effectiveness of technology-mediated dance interventions and their impact on psychosocial factors in older adults is weak and with a high risk for bias. The ndings of this review may inform future, more rigorous research in the area

Denial of long-term issues with agriculture on tropical peatlands will have devastating consequences

Letter to the Editor

The LINC00961 transcript and its encoded micropeptide SPAAR regulate endothelial cell function

AIMS: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play functional roles in physiology and disease, yet understanding of their contribution to endothelial cell (EC) function is incomplete. We identified lncRNAs regulated during EC differentiation and investigated the role of LINC00961 and its encoded micropeptide, small regulatory polypeptide of amino acid response (SPAAR), in EC function. METHODS AND RESULTS: Deep sequencing of human embryonic stem cell differentiation to ECs was combined with Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) RNA-seq data from vascular cells, identifying 278 endothelial enriched genes, including 6 lncRNAs. Expression of LINC00961, first annotated as an lncRNA but reassigned as a protein-coding gene for the SPAAR micropeptide, was increased during the differentiation and was EC enriched. LINC00961 transcript depletion significantly reduced EC adhesion, tube formation, migration, proliferation, and barrier integrity in primary ECs. Overexpression of the SPAAR open reading frame increased tubule formation; however, overexpression of the full-length transcript did not, despite production of SPAAR. Furthermore, overexpression of an ATG mutant of the full-length transcript reduced network formation, suggesting a bona fide non-coding RNA function of the transcript with opposing effects to SPAAR. As the LINC00961 locus is conserved in mouse, we generated an LINC00961 locus knockout (KO) mouse that underwent hind limb ischaemia (HLI) to investigate the angiogenic role of this locus in vivo. In agreement with in vitro data, KO animals had a reduced capillary density in the ischaemic adductor muscle after 7 days. Finally, to characterize LINC00961 and SPAAR independent functions in ECs, we performed pull-downs of both molecules and identified protein-binding partners. LINC00961 RNA binds the G-actin sequestering protein thymosin beta-4x (Tβ4) and Tβ4 depletion phenocopied the overexpression of the ATG mutant. SPAAR binding partners included the actin-binding protein, SYNE1. CONCLUSION: The LINC00961 locus regulates EC function in vitro and in vivo. The gene produces two molecules with opposing effects on angiogenesis: SPAAR and LINC00961

Association between bisphosphonate therapy and outcomes from rehabilitation in older people

Background: Bisphosphonate therapy may have actions beyond bone, including effects on cardiovascular, immune and muscle function. We tested whether bisphosphonate treatment is associated with improved outcomes in older people undergoing inpatient rehabilitationMethods: Analysis of prospectively collected, linked routine clinical datasets. Participants were divided into never users of bisphosphonates, use prior to rehabilitation only, use after rehabilitation only, and current users (use before and after rehabilitation). We calculated change in 20-point Barthel scores during rehabilitation, adjusting for comorbid disease and laboratory data using multivariable regression analysis. Cox regression analyses were performed to analyse the association between bisphosphonate use and time to death or hospitalisation.Results: 2797 patients were included in the analysis. Current bisphosphonate users showed greater improvement in Barthel score during rehabilitation than non-users (5.0 points [95%CI 4.3 to 5.7] vs 3.8 [95%CI 3.6 to 3.9]), but no difference compared to those receiving bisphosphonates only after discharge (5.1 [95%CI 4.6 to 5.5]). Previous bisphosphonate use was significantly associated with time to death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.41 [95%CI 1.15 to 1.73]) but less strongly with time to combined endpoint of hospitalisation or death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.18 [95%CI 0.98 to 1.48]). Use after discharge from rehabilitation was associated with reduced risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.64 [95%CI 0.55 to 0.73]; hazard ratio per year of bisphosphonate prescription 0.98 [95%CI 0.97 to 0.99])Conclusion: Bisphosphonate use is unlikely to be causally associated with improved physical function in older people, but continuing use may be associated with lower risk of death.<br/