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ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a rapid pivot to online learning across many higher education institutions globally. This paper investigates to what extent assessment strategies changed as a result of this pivot. It explores the case of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) in Ireland and finds that 95% of respondents altered their assessment practices in some way. Beyond identifying changing practice, the paper also develops a TARC (Typology of Assessment Responses to COVID-19) model which shows four categories of responses. Reactorsare those academics who simply moved their assessments online. Adaptive Respondersmodified assessments slightly for the online environment. While Opportunistsare those who used the opportunity of the pandemic to implement strategies they had been considering, the Committed Innovatorsengage in innovation in teaching and assessment strategies on an ongoing basis and, thus, they continued to do what they always did. The key factors that were considered in the decision-making about how to alter assessment strategies were pedagogical, practical considerations and the availability of support.

In a high-profile trial, jury verdicts, jury questions, and the conduct of a so-called ‘detective juror’, may ignite public discussion and criticism of the role of juries in criminal trials. If, in the course of this discussion, a juror or jury is criticised, the voice of jurors is rarely heard in response. Through the examination of several high-profile cases, this article examines the role and limitations of a judge, Juries Commissioner, Attorney-General and academics in promoting informed public debate about jury trials. This article then discusses how a Juries Advisory Council could improve public discourse about juries and juror misconduct.

In a sexual offence case, jurors may have misconceptions that inappropriately affect their evaluation of a complainant’s evidence, for example, where the complainant has not complained at the first reasonable opportunity to do so. In Victoria, a judge may assist jurors to understand why a complainant may not have complained earlier by providing examples that are not drawn from the evidence. The Victorian Court of Appeal has recently questioned the legislative authority to do this. This article answers the Court’s question. It also considers the Court’s obligations to address this misconception, having regard to a complainant’s interests, to ensure a fair trial.

In the recent case of Pell v The Queen, the High Court quashed the jury’s verdict and reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal (majority) in Victoria. This article analyses the High Court’s approach to determining the facts that were open to the jury and to determining whether the jury erred in finding Cardinal Pell guilty. The High Court’s decision raises important issues about the jury as Australia’s constitutional tribunal for deciding issues of fact, how appellate courts review a jury’s verdict, how juries and appellate courts make findings of fact, and the challenges of finding facts in historical sexual abuse cases.

Brian B. Pinter's experience, reported in 'A Fundamental Challenge' (9/12), parallels mine in two large Catholic parishes, one diocese and one regional adult faith formation certificate program. It is one [...]

Production of autoantibodies to the enzyme tissue transglutaminase (tTG) is a hallmark of coeliac disease (CD). We have previously demonstrated that the immumoglobulin (Ig) A response to tTG in adult CD specifically targets its catalytic core region, containing the active-site triad of amino acids. The aim of the present study was to investigate this phenomenon in paediatric patients with CD, and to elucidate the contribution of each active-site residue to epitopes recognised. The specificity of the IgG anti-tTG response was also investigated and compared with that of the IgA anti-tTG response, in both paediatric and adult patients with CD.

The objective of this study is to investigate the use of microwave plasma treatments as a processing technology for the sintering of metal powders. The volumetric heating process achieved with microwaves is considerably more efficient compared with resistance heating. The sintering study was carried out on 20 mm diameter by 2 mm thick compacted discs of nickel powder, with mean particle size of 1 µm. The discs were fired in a 5 cm diameter microwave plasma ball, under a hydrogen atmosphere at a pressure of 2 kPa. There was an increase in fired pellet transverse rupture strength (TRS) with plasma treatment duration. The mechanical properties of the sintered nickel discs were compared based on TRS, Rockwell hardness tests and density measurements. The morphology of the sintered discs was compared using microscopy and SEM. Comparison disc sintering studies were carried out using both a non plasma microwave and tube furnace firing. Using the microwave plasma sintering process full sintered disc strength of ≈1000 N (based on 3-point bend tests) was achieved after a 10 minute treatment time. In contrast the sintering time in the tube furnace treatment involved total processing time of up to 6 hours. The non plasma microwave system involved intermediate treatment periods of 2 hours. The degree of sintering between the individual nickel powder particles can be precisely controlled by the duration of the treatment time in the plasma.

A surgical kit owned and used by Dr. Smith Buttermore, assistant surgeon, 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment, during the American Civil War, was donated to the Appomattox Courthouse National Military Park. Prior to conservation of the kit blood residues were observed on the edges of implements. Samples of residues from three implements, a carpal saw, a skull saw and a pair of forceps, were sent for immunological analysis in order to ascertain if the implements had been used on more than one human and/or if they had been used on non-humans. Immunological and DNA analysis of the residues showed the presence of human blood on the forceps and carpal saw while DNA analysis demonstrated the presence of more than one human blood on the skull saw.

A letter to the editor is presented about U.S. gun control and the connections between gun violence, U.S. firearm legislation , and firearm ownership in the U.S., in response to the article "The Truth About Mass Shootings and Gun Control" by Benjamin Domenech in the February 2013 issue.

The article features the Junkyard Hawks, a percussion group at Hite Elementary in Louisville, Kentucky. The director of the group is Ginger Greer, and freelance percussionist Mark Tate volunteers his expertise with the kids. It notes that the members of Junkyard Hawks, grades 3-5, read and perform music at an advanced level. An interview with Tim Hagan, the school's principal, is also presented. Hagan said that the group was named Junkyard Hawks because the school's mascot is a Hawk and the group started out playing on junk such as buckets and bottles.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the November 2011 issue, discussing optimism and pessimism within contemporary U.S. politics.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles including "Of Many Things," by Drew Christiansen, "A Fundamental Challenge" by Brian B. Pinter and "Beyond Catechesis," by Michael G. Lawler and Todd A. Salzman, published in the 2011 issue.