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The primary aim of this research was to investigate students' views of using published research and their attitudes towards the research activities of their lecturers. Although this has been examined often in university settings the focus here was on science students undertaking foundation degrees in Further Education Colleges (FECs). This was done through open question questionnaires at three FECs in one college partnership. A secondary aim was to examine the feasibility of developing a journal for the college partnership which would enable staff and students to submit manuscripts. Attitudes were sought through homogeneous focus groups with science students and staff at colleges within one college partnership. Lecturers and students showed strong support for the proposal. Students indicated that lecturers who had published would be seen as more credible and would link their research activity to the learning experience more effectively. Students believed that the possibility of publishing their work in such a journal would be a wonderful opportunity which would make them work harder. Staff saw the journal as an opportunity to publish work they had undertaken for postgraduate qualifications and encourage them to seek other research opportunities. It now needs strategic investigation regarding the practicalities of producing such a journal.

Knowledge of research methods is regarded as crucial for the UK economy and workforce. However, research methods teaching is viewed as a challenging area for lecturers and students. The pedagogy of research methods teaching within universities has been noted as underdeveloped, with undergraduate students regularly expressing negative dispositions to the subject. These are challenges documented in university-based higher education (HE), yet little is known of the practices and pedagogies of research methods teaching in the college-based HE setting, where the delivery of HE has grown in prominence in recent years. Because college-based HE is widely regarded as primarily vocational, incorporating research methods into curricula may be seen as an additional level of complexity for staff to negotiate. In this article, we report on the data collected within a study to examine research methods teaching in social science disciplines on HE programmes taught in college-based settings in England. Drawing on data obtained from college-based HE lecturers and students, we discuss features of research methods teaching and how these may be applied with a diverse student body, within vocationally focused institutions. Issues of institutional culture, resourcing and staff development are also considered as these are identified as integral to the successful embedding of research methods teaching.

Katja Adie,1 Christine Schofield,1 Margie Berrow,2 Jennifer Wingham,3 Janet Freeman,1 John Humfryes,1 Colin Pritchard3 1Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Cornwall, UK; 2Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit, Plymouth University Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, UK; 3Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, UKIntroduction: Many stroke patients experience loss of arm function requiring rehabilitation, which is expensive, repetitive, and does not always translate into “real life.” Nintendo Wii Sports™ (Wii™) may offer task-specific training that is repetitive and motivating. The Trial of Wii™ in Stroke (TWIST) is designed to investigate feasibility, efficacy, and acceptability using Wii™ to improve affected arm function for patients after stroke.Method: This is a randomized controlled trial (RCT), incorporating a qualitative study and health economics analysis that compares playing Wii™ versus arm exercises in patients receiving standard rehabilitation in a home setting within 6 months of stroke with a motor deficit of less than 5 on the MRC (Medical Research Council) scale (arm). In this study, we expect to randomize 240 participants.Outcome measures: Primary outcome is change in affected arm function at 6 weeks follow-up in intervention and control group using the Action Research Arm Test. Secondary outcomes include occupational performance using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, quality of life using the Stroke Impact Scale, cost effectiveness analysis, and a qualitative study investigating factors that influence use of Wii™ for patients and carers.Conclusion: TWIST is the first UK RCT assessing the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and acceptability of Wii™ in stroke rehabilitation. The trial has been registered with ISRCTN 06807619 and UK CRN 11030. Results of the study will be published after completion of study in August 2014.Keywords: virtual reality, rehabilitation

To develop a consensus statement for the prescription of a Powered Wheelchair Standing Device (PWSD) in young people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). An international multidisciplinary panel comprising clinicians and users (young people with DMD) along with their parents was consulted. A literature review was undertaken and a Delphi method was utilised to generate consensus statements. To supplement limited literature, round one of the Delphi process comprised questions consistent with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health model of disability to generate items based on expert opinion and was completed by 38 clinicians and nine users. Thirty-seven participants completed two further rounds rating the importance of each item with a five-point scale. Agreement of 70% or more participants for items indicated consensus. Consensus was reached for 47 of 80 items. Tolerance and comfort in supported standing for at least 10 min, ankle contracture less than 10 degrees and user goals reflecting motivation to use the standing function were agreed as necessary in guiding the decision to trial a PWSD. Evidence of family, therapist and servicing support were also considered critical in enabling continuity of PWSD use. PWSD is a mobility option that offers choice, control and opportunity for independence. This consensus statement can assist clinicians with decision-making around factors influencing successful implementation and optimisation of PWSD for young people with DMD. Tolerance and comfort in supported standing for at least 10 minutes, ankle contracture limited to less than 10 degrees and the child's goals reflecting motivation to use the standing position were agreed to be necessary considerations in guiding the decision to trial a PWSD. Trialling a PWSD when the child is predicted to lose the ability to walk within a one to two year period was recommended although a PWSD could be suitable for a child who was unable to walk. Evidence of family, therapist and servicing support was considered critical in enabling continuity of PWSD use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the literature that has appeared over the past five decades indicates that the median case fatality from severe malnutrition has remained unchanged over this period and is typically 20-30%, with the highest levels (50-60%) being among those with oedematous malnutrition. A likely cause of this continuing high mortality is faulty case-management. A survey of treatment centres worldwide (n = 79) showed that for acutely ill children, inappropriate diets that are high in protein, energy and sodium and low in micronutrients are commonplace. Practices that could have fatal consequences, such as prescribing diuretics for oedema, were found to be widespread. Evidence of outmoded and conflicting teaching manuals also emerged. Since low mortality levels from malnutrition can be achieved using appropriate treatment regimens, updated treatment guidelines, which are practical and prescriptive rather than descriptive, need to be implemented as part of a comprehensive training programme., Introduction Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) is a multideficiency state that includes a range of conditions, the most severe forms of which are marasmus, kwashiorkor, and marasmic kwashiorkor. The seminal investigation of [...]

Background: Patients with acute abdominal pathology requiring emergency laparotomy who experience a delay to theatre have an increased risk of morbidity, mortality and complications. The timeline between symptom onset and operation is ill defined with international variance in assessment and management. This systematic review aims to define where delays to surgery occur and assess the evidence for interventions trialled across Europe. Methods: A systematic review was performed searching MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1 January 2005 to 6 May 2020). All studies assessing the impact of time to theatre in patients with acute abdominal pathology requiring emergency laparotomy were considered. Results: Sixteen papers, involving 50 653 patients, were included in the analysis. Fifteen unique timepoints were identified in the patient pathway between symptom onset and operation which are classified into four distinct phases. Time from admission to theatre (1–72 hours) and mortality rate (10.6–74.5 per cent) varied greatly between studies. Mean time to surgery was significantly higher in deceased patients compared with that in survivors. Delays were related to imaging, diagnosis, decision making, theatre availability and staffing. Four of five interventional studies showed a reduced mortality rate following introduction of an acute laparotomy pathway. Conclusion: Given the heterogeneous nature of the patient population and pathologies, an assessment and management framework from onset of symptoms to operation is proposed. This could be incorporated into mortality prediction and audit tools and assist in the assessment of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a number of design modifications and changes in operational conditions that have a major influence on the overall performance of the large Coventry municipal incinerator plant (65 MW), which incorporates a heat recovery system for district heating. Four different secondary air-injection systems and various primary air-distribution patterns along the grate were investigated using a computational fluid dynamic model, in an attempt to obtain optimum combustion conditions that would minimize potential emissions of toxic pollutants and reduce maintenance costs at the plant. The modeling work showed that the use of four large high-speed secondary air jets firing toward a common center, together with optimizing the primary air distribution along the grate, produces substantially longer residence times and improves temperature profile at the exit. The novel feature of the proposed secondary air-injection system is the formation of a large and significantly strong recirculation zone, located above the burning refuse bed, in the middle of the furnace shaft. This strong recirculation zone improves the overall performance of the incinerator due to intensive mixing of hot gaseous products evolving from the refuse bed with the combustion air supplied as the secondary air, and greatly improves the gas phase combustion and helps to reduce emissions of chlorinated organic compounds. Results obtained clearly demonstrate that the proposed secondary air-injection system has an excellent potential to satisfy most requirements for emissions levels and gas resident times specified by the European Directives (EEC) for municipal incinerators with a vertical radiation shaft.

Objectives: To determine long-term predictors of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and evaluate the treatment effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on HRQOL in the US Military HIV Natural History Study (NHS) cohort.Methods: Participants were a nested cohort of the NHS who responded to the Rand Short Form 36 questionnaire administered from 2006 to 2010. Physical component summary scores (PCS) and mental component summary scores (MCS) were computed using standard algorithms. HAART-status was categorized as non-protease inhibitor-based (NPI-HAART), protease inhibitor-based (PI-HAART), HAART-naïve, or off-HAART. Mixed linear random effects models were used to estimate changes in PCS and MCS over time for treatment and covariates (including CD4 count, HIV viral load, medical and mental comorbidities).Results: Eight hundred and twelve participants met the inclusion criteria. There was no difference in PCS or MCS between those on PI-HAART compared to NPI-HAART. Significant predictors of PCS were CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3 (β = - 2.90), CD4 count 200-499 cells/mm3 (β = - 0.80), and mental comorbidity (β = - 3.23). Others were medical comorbidity, AIDS-defining illness, being on NPI-HAART, HAART-naïve, age, and rank. Those with medical comorbidities experienced yearly improvement in PCS. Predictors of MCS were CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3 (β = - 2.53), mental comorbidity (β = - 4.58), and being African American (β = 2.59).Conclusion: HRQOL was significantly affected by low CD4 count, medical and mental comorbidities. Addressing these modifiable factors would be expected to improve the physical and mental HRQOL of the cohort. Our study did not find any treatment benefit of NPI-HAART over PI-HAART on HRQOL in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]