Comparison of Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Photocatalysts for the Inactivation of in Water Using Slurry and Rotating-Disk Photocatalytic Reactors.

The application of photocatalysis for the disinfection of water has been extensively reported over the past 30 years. Titanium dioxide (TiO) has been the most widely and successfully used photocatalyst to date; however, it is not without its limitations. Frequently observed long lag times, sometimes up to 60 min, before bacterial inactivation begins and the presence of residual microorganisms, for example, up to 10 colony forming units, remaining after treatment are ongoing challenges with this particular photocatalyst.

Evaluation of a rural nurse-led clinic for female sexual dysfunction.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore changes in the sexual function of women who attended a rural nurse-led female sexual dysfunction clinic.

Design: This exploratory study was designed as a one-group pre-test/post-test design from a convenience sample of women attending the clinic.

Setting: The setting was a women's health centre located in regional Western Australia.

Commentary on 'prophylactic drug management for febrile seizures in children'.

This is a commentary on a Cochrane review, published in this issue of EBCH, first published as: Offringa M, Newton R. Prophylactic drug management for febrile seizures in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 4.

Addressing the workplace needs of Western Australian midwives: a Delphi study.

Objective: To determine the workplace needs of Western Australian midwives working in public metropolitan secondary hospitals.

Method: Using a three-round Delphi approach, Round 1 incorporated focus groups and a questionnaire. Fifteen focus groups were conducted with midwives also having the option of contributing through an open-ended questionnaire.

An exploration of pediatric nurses' compliance with a medication checking and administration protocol.

Purpose: This study examined nurses' reported compliance with the medication administration protocol and explored reasons for noncompliance.

Design And Method: A mixed-methods design incorporated a questionnaire (n= 72) and focus groups (n= 24).

Results: Differences were found between the level of experience and protocol compliance.

Non-pharmacological Management of Fever in Otherwise Healthy Children.

Background: Fever is a common childhood problem faced in both hospital and community settings. In many cases the fever is associated with mild to moderate self-limiting illnesses. There has been a rapid increase in antipyretic use as the means of managing or treating this adaptive physiological response to infection.

Removal of microorganisms and their chemical metabolites from water using semiconductor photocatalysis.

Semiconductor photocatalysis has been applied to the remediation of an extensive range of chemical pollutants in water over the past 30 years. The application of this versatile technology for removal of micro-organisms and cyanotoxins has recently become an area that has also been the subject of extensive research particularly over the past decade. This paper considers recent research in the application of semiconductor photocatalysis for the treatment of water contaminated with pathogenic micro-organisms and cyanotoxins.

Variables to be considered when assessing the photocatalytic destruction of bacterial pathogens.

The current study sought to assess the importance of three common variables on the outcome of TiO(2) photocatalysis experiments with bacteria. Factors considered were (a) ability of test species to withstand osmotic pressure, (b) incubation period of agar plates used for colony counts following photocatalysis and (c) chemical nature of suspension medium used for bacteria and TiO(2). Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella ser.

From workshop to work practice: An exploration of context and facilitation in the development of evidence-based practice.

Background: This article examines the process of translating evidence into practice using a facilitation model developed by the Western Australian Centre for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery.

Aims: Using the conceptual framework Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS), the aims of the study were (1) to explore the relative and combined importance of context and facilitation in the successful implementation of a new evidence-based clinical practice protocol and (2) to examine the establishment of more lasting change to individuals and organizations that resulted in greater incorporation of the principles of evidence-based practice (EBP).

Methods: A pre-workshop, semi-structured telephone survey with 16 nurse managers in six rural hospitals; a summative evaluation immediately post-workshop with 54 participants; and follow-up, semi-structured interviews with 23 workshop participants.

Use and development of clinical pathways by registered nurses in an acute paediatric setting.

Clinical pathways are widely regarded as providing valuable knowledge about specific types of patients and their care, as well as providing direct guidance in clinical practice. In Australia, the use of care pathways has occurred with seemingly minimal professional nursing debate as to their benefits in practice. Comments supporting the introduction of pathways into clinical practice have focused on assistance to decision making, facilitation of clinical judgements about care, assistance in improving practice and utility as educational tools, particularly for new staff, new graduates and casual employees.

Nursing and midwifery management of hypoglycaemia in healthy term neonates.

Unlabelled: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Objectives: The primary objective of this review was to determine the best available evidence for maintenance of euglycaemia* in healthy term neonates, and the management of asymptomatic hypoglycaemia in otherwise healthy term neonates.

Inclusion Criteria: TYPES OF STUDIES: The review included any relevant published or unpublished studies undertaken between 1995 and 2004. Studies that focus on the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care devices for blood glucose screening and/or monitoring in the neonate were initially included as a subgroup of this review.

Effectiveness of a pelvic floor muscle exercise program on urinary incontinence following childbirth.

Unlabelled: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Objectives  The primary objective of this review was to determine, from the available evidence, the effectiveness of an antenatal and/or a post-natal program of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) compared with usual care on preventing, reducing or resolving the incidence and severity of stress incontinence, urge incontinence or mixed stress and urge urinary incontinence following childbirth. Secondary objectives were included to examine the effectiveness of a PFME program on pelvic floor muscle strength and on encouraging adherence to an exercising program.

Inclusion Criteria: TYPES OF STUDIES: Randomised controlled trials and non-randomised controlled trials were included in the review if, in relation to urinary incontinence, and/or adherence to a PFME program, and/or pelvic floor muscle strength, the following had been explored: • antenatal PFME compared with usual care; • post-natal PFME compared with usual care; • a PFME program compared with usual care.

Nursing and midwifery management of hypoglycaemia in healthy term neonates.

Objectives: The primary objective of this review was to determine the best available evidence for maintenance of euglycaemia in healthy term neonates, and the management of asymptomatic hypoglycaemia in otherwise healthy term neonates.

Inclusion Criteria: The review included any relevant published or unpublished studies undertaken between 1995 and 2004. Studies that focus on the diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care devices for blood glucose screening and/or monitoring in the neonate were initially included as a subgroup of this review.

Effectiveness of a pelvic floor muscle exercise program on urinary incontinence following childbirth.

Objectives: The primary objective of this review was to determine, from the available evidence, the effectiveness of an antenatal and/or a post-natal program of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) compared with usual care on preventing, reducing or resolving the incidence and severity of stress incontinence, urge incontinence or mixed stress and urge urinary incontinence following childbirth. Secondary objectives were included to examine the effectiveness of a PFME program on pelvic floor muscle strength and on encouraging adherence to an exercising program.

Inclusion Criteria: Randomised controlled trials and non-randomised controlled trials were included in the review if, in relation to urinary incontinence, and/or adherence to a PFME program, and/or pelvic floor muscle strength, the following had been explored:Usual care is commonly used to describe the care women normally receive from health professionals in the antenatal and/or post-natal period.

Nursing management of fever in children: a systematic review.

Objectives: The aim of the present review was to determine whether the best available evidence supports the types and timing of the various nursing interventions that are commonly used to reduce fever in non-critically-ill children, and to what extent the outcomes are influenced by these nursing actions.

Methods: Studies included were randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials that involved non-critically-ill children with a fever aged between 3 months and 16 years. The search strategy sought to identify both published and unpublished research reports in the English language and covered all major databases up to 1998.

Lack of flagella disadvantages Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis during the early stages of infection in the rat.

The roles of flagella and five fimbriae (SEF14, SEF17, SEF21, pef, lpf) in the early stages (up to 3 days) of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) infection have been investigated in the rat. Wild-type strains LA5 and S1400 (fim+/fla+) and insertionally inactivated mutants unable to express the five fimbriae (fim-/fla+), flagella (fim+/fla-) or fimbriae and flagella (fim-/fla-) were used.