Evaluation of Sheffield City Council's Community Justice Panels Project

This report is the output of an evaluation commissioned by Sheffield City Council and undertaken by the Hallam Centre for Community Justice at Sheffield Hallam University. The evaluation was undertaken during October and November 2009 with the objectives of assessing the effectiveness of the Community Justice Panels project so far and providing recommendations for future development. The evaluation used an action research methodology and included documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews with strategic partners and stakeholders, wrongdoers and harmed persons, facilitator focus group and observation of the Panels

Green characters in Cabernet Sauvignon

The intensity rating of green character attributes of five commercial Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the Margaret River appellation were determined according to the Standards Association of Australia method 2542.2.3 (1988), using an expert panel of five judges, comprising winemakers and wine judges

Using Learning Analytics to Evaluate Course Design and Student Behavior in an Online Wine Business Course

This case study describes the use of learning analytics to evaluate the transition of a postgraduate wine business course from face-to-face to online delivery using e-learning course design principles. Traditionally, Foundations of Wine Science lectures were delivered face-to-face, however the decision to transition the course from semester to trimester format presented an opportunity for online delivery of lectures. This was initially achieved through audio recordings, then video lectures, supported by a range of digital learning resources intended to engage, support and enhance student learning and the student experience. Descriptive analysis of learning analytics, comprising assessment results, student evaluations of learning and teaching, and data sourced from the Learning Management System, was performed to evaluate the impact of online delivery of course content on student performance, satisfaction and engagement. The use of audio lecture recordings negatively impacted students’ perception of the overall quality of the course (including course organisation, learning strategies and learning resources). The subsequent implementation of e-learning designed video lectures was considered superior to audio recordings, albeit final grades were not significantly different between the delivery modes. However, student engagement was equal to, or better than face-to-face delivery, when content was designed specifically for an e-learning environment

Continuous low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent urinary tract infection in adults who perform clean intermittent self-catheterisation: the AnTIC RCT

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

‘You can’t start a car when there’s no petrol left’: a qualitative study of patient, family and clinician perspectives on implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation

Objective: To explore the attitudes towards implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) deactivation and initiation of deactivation discussions among patients, relatives and clinicians. Design: A multiphase qualitative study consisting of in situ hospital ICD clinic observations, and semistructured interviews of clinicians, patients and relatives. Data were analysed using a constant comparative approach. Setting: One tertiary and two district general hospitals in England. Participants: We completed 38 observations of hospital consultations prior to ICD implantation, and 80 interviews with patients, family members and clinicians between 2013 and 2015. Patients were recruited from preimplantation to postdeactivation. Clinicians included cardiologists, cardiac physiologists, heart failure nurses and palliative care professionals. Results: Four key themes were identified from the data: the current status of deactivation discussions; patients’ perceptions of deactivation; who should take responsibility for deactivation discussions and decisions; and timing of deactivation discussions. We found that although patients and doctors recognised the importance of advance care planning, including ICD deactivation at an early stage in the patient journey, this was often not reflected in practice. The most appropriate clinician to take the lead was thought to be dependent on the context, but could include any appropriately trained member of the healthcare team. It was suggested that deactivation should be raised preimplantation and regularly reviewed. Identification of trigger points postimplantation for deactivation discussions may help ensure that these are timely and inappropriate shocks are avoided. Conclusions: There is a need for early, ongoing and evolving discussion between ICD recipients and clinicians regarding the eventual need for ICD deactivation. The most appropriate clinician to instigate deactivation discussions is likely to vary between patients and models of care. Reminders at key trigger points, and routine discussion of deactivation at implantation and during advance care planning could prevent distressing experiences for both the patient and their family at the end of life

Development of Technical Wine Assessment Skills in Tertiary Students

Learning to objectively evaluate wine sensory properties (such as appearance, aroma, flavour, taste and mouthfeel attributes) features prominently in wine education programs. Formal, structured sensory classes that involve recording detailed observations and perceptions is the traditional approach to build perceptual and linguistic learning. This research explored students’ behaviour in maintaining wine tasting notes and their perceptions of wine sensory classes by survey across four Australian institutions (n=109) and by focus groups (n=24). International students were not as confident in class room discussions or describing wine, and did not perform as well in sensory exams, suggesting that language ability and/or cultural/life experience is important for technical wine assessment. Given that 98% of students surveyed owned a smartphone, mobile learning may provide an opportunity to enhance and facilitate learning of wine sensory analysis outside of the classroom. The My Wine WorldTM App (developed for smartphones) was evaluated by academic staff and students as a potentially valuable e-learning tool for the development of perceptual and linguistic memory of sensory attributes

Wiping out MRSA:effect of introducing a universal disinfection wipe in a large UK teaching hospital

Abstract Background Contamination of the inanimate environment around patients constitutes an important reservoir of MRSA. Here we describe the effect of introducing a universal disinfection wipe in all wards on the rates of MRSA acquisitions and bacteraemias across a large UK teaching hospital. Methods A segmented Poisson regression model was used to detect any significant changes in the monthly numbers per 100,000 bed days of MRSA acquisitions and bacteraemias from April 2013 - December 2017 across QEHB. Results From April 2013 to April 2016, cleaning of ward areas and multi-use patient equipment by nursing staff consisted of a two-wipe system. Firstly, a detergent wipe was used, which was followed by a disinfection step using an alcohol wipe. In May 2016, QEHB discontinued the use of a two-wipe system for cleaning and changed to a one wipe system utilising a combined cleaning and disinfection wipe containing a quaternary ammonium compound. The segmented Poisson regression model demonstrated that the rate of MRSA acquisition/100,000 patient bed days was affected by the introduction of the new wiping regime (20.7 to 9.4 per 100,000 patient bed days; p <0.005). Discussion Using a Poisson model we demonstrated that the average hospital acquisition rate of MRSA/100,000 patient bed days reduced by 6.3% per month after the introduction of the new universal wipe. Conclusion We suggest that using a simple one wipe system for nurse cleaning is an effective strategy to reduce the spread and incidence of healthcare associated MRSA

Volatile profiles of commercial vetch prepared via different processing methods

Vicia sativa (Common Vetch) is currently an underutilised leguminous crop species with high protein content and superior drought tolerance. This study aimed to understand the mechanisms behind vetch flavor development following processing to facilitate its uptake as a future source of dietary protein. A total of 95 volatile compounds were identified by solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME GC–MS) for a range of vetches processed by dehulling, soaking, germination, microwaving, and fermentation. 2-pentyl furan, benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, 1-octen-3-ol and 1-hexanol were found to be characteristic aroma compounds of V. sativa. Analysis of a V. sativa landrace demonstrated significant intraspecies variation in volatile abundance, three-fold that of commercial varieties. Both natto and tempeh fermentation produced significant quantities of alcohols, esters, and carboxylic acids with specifically natto generating significant pyrazines. Concentrations of 1-octen-3-ol significantly decreased after tempeh fermentation indicating its potential to reduce documented off flavor generating volatiles within V. sativa