Report on the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Standards Workshop 2016: SCAR SO-CPR Database Expert Group

2016年12月12−16日にオーストラリア南極局にて「南極研究科学委員会（以下SCAR）連続プランクトン採集器（以下CPR）データベース専門家グループワークショップ2016」を開催した．南大洋CPR観測プロジェクトを主導する日本，オーストラリア，ニュージーランドの実務担当者の間で，観測データの品質管理，種同定やデータ分析手法の再確認，および今後の活動についての詳細な討議を行った．前半はこれまでのプロジェクト活動を総括し，各国のマネージメントの状況を確認し，さらには将来的な観測計画を議論した．後半は動物プランクトンの種同定リストの更新のため，具体的な分類カテゴリーの種同定を実施した．特に有孔虫とオキアミ類の幼生期について，確認を行った．まとめられた種同定基準を用いて新たなマニュアル作成を開始することになった．今後，2年に一度を目途にプロジェクト参加国の技術者を集めたワークショップを開催し，各国間で統一された試料処理およびデータ管理を維持していくことを目指すこととなった．The“Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Survey Standards Workshop”was held at the Australian Antarctic Division on 12−16December 2016. The purposes of the workshop were to confirm that consistent and high standards of species identification, methodology, and data quality were being maintained amongst the main analysts in the SO-CPR Survey, and to discuss future training methods, including a SO-CPR manual that will include a counting rule book, and a future road map for the SO-CPR program. During the workshop we discussed a range of topics including: taxonomic resolution issues (particularly for Foraminifera and euphausiid larval identification and staging); laboratory methods (preservation and storage, with emphasis on maintaining correct pH); shipboard techniques; training methods; data handling (metadata, database, data sharing); gap analysis (spatial, temporal, data, quantitative); and future workshops/conferences, including comprehensive training workshops for emerging SO-CPR survey partners (India). We agreed that there should be a larger workshop every two years to ensure that the high standards of the SO-CPR program are maintained

Radiographic assessment of the skeletons of Dolly and other clones finds no abnormal osteoarthritis

Our recent report detailing the health status of cloned sheep concluded that the animals had aged normally. This is in stark contrast to reports on Dolly (first animal cloned from adult cells) whose diagnoses of osteoarthritis (OA) at 5½ years of age led to considerable scientific concern and media debate over the possibility of early-onset age-related diseases in cloned animals. Our study included four 8-year old ewes derived from the cell line that gave rise to Dolly, yet none of our aged sheep showed clinical signs of OA, and they had radiographic evidence of only mild or, in one case, moderate OA. Given that the only formal record of OA in Dolly is a brief mention of a single joint in a conference abstract, this led us to question whether the original concerns about Dolly’s OA were justified. As none of the original clinical or radiographic records were preserved, we undertook radiographic examination of the skeletons of Dolly and her contemporary clones. We report a prevalence and distribution of radiographic-OA similar to that observed in naturally conceived sheep, and our healthy aged cloned sheep. We conclude that the original concerns that cloning had caused early-onset OA in Dolly were unfounded

Report on the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Standards Workshop 2018: SCAR SO-CPR Database Expert Group

2018年11月20−23日にオーストラリア南極局にて「南極研究科学委員会，連続プランクトン採集器（以下CPR）データベース専門家グループワークショップ2018」を開催した．本ワークショップは2年に一度を目途に，南大洋CPR観測プロジェクト参加国の技術者を集め，各国間で統一された試料処理およびデータ管理を維持する目的で実施しており，今回は2016年に次ぐ開催であった．プロジェクトを主導する日本，オーストラリア，ニュージーランドの実務担当者の間で，動物プランクトンの種同定リストの更新，それに伴う具体的な分類カテゴリーの同定方法の確認を行った．特に亜南極域に出現するオキアミ類やカイアシ類について情報共有した．後半は観測データの品質管理，データ分析手法の再確認，また各国のマネージメントの状況を確認するとともに，今後の活動についての詳細な討議を行った．特に新規参入国へ向けた技術者育成ワークショップのための，分析手法マニュアル，および動物プランクトン種同定マニュアルの作成へ向けたロードマップを作製し，作業を開始することになった．The “Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Survey Standards Workshop” was held at the Australian Antarctic Division on 20−23 November 2018. This biennial workshop was last held in 2016. The participants were technicians from the three nations (Japan, Australia, and New Zealand) leading the project. The purpose of the workshop was to ensure that high standards of data quality were being maintained, in terms of species identification and methodology, among the main analysts of the SO-CPR survey, and to discuss future training methods and a future roadmap for the SO-CPR program. A range of topics was discussed including: taxonomic resolution issues (particularly for northern species of copepods and euphausiids), laboratory methods (setting of the CPR cassette, microplastic counting rules), training methods (SO-CPR processing manual and zooplankton counting rule book), data handling for database input, and future standards workshops, including comprehensive training workshops for emerging SO-CPR survey partners. We discussed and agreed on a future roadmap for making a SO-CPR processing manual and zooplankton counting rule book, for the purposes of current and new technician training

ナンキョク ケンキュウ カガク イインカイ ノ レンゾク プランクトン サイシュウキ センモンカ グループ ワークショップ ホウコク

2010年11月22-26日に国立極地研究所にて「南極研究科学委員会(以下SCAR)連続プランクトン採集器(以下CPR)専門家グループワークショップ」を開催した.4カ国から12名が参加し,南大洋CPR観測実務担当者の間で,観測データの品質管理,種同定やデータ分析手法の再確認,及び今後の活動についての詳細な討議を行った.前半は文献資料及び顕微鏡観察を通して,動物プランクトンの分類群ごとに種同定の情報交換及び具体的な分類カテゴリーの統一を図った.まとめられた種同定基準を用いて新たにマニュアルを作成することとなった.後半はデータ分析手法とデータマネージメント,さらには将来的な観測計画を確認した.今後,定期的にワークショップを開催し,各国間で統一された試料処理及びデータ管理を維持していくことで合意した."Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Standards Workshop: SCAR Expert Group on CPR Research" was held at the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) on 22-26 November 2011. Twelve participants from four countries attended. The purposes of the workshop were to ensure that consistent and high standards of species identification, methodology, and data quality were being maintained amongst all participants and laboratories in the SO-CPR survey, and to discuss future contributions of the SO-CPR program to a global CPR network. The first three and a half days of the workshop were focused on assessing the accuracy and consistency of species identifications. We concluded that our species identifications and procedures are accurate and uniform, and that the SO-CPR database is of the highest possible standard. Certain taxonomic criteria developed at the workshop will be described in a new laboratory procedures manual. Four major gaps in the database (spatial, temporal, taxonomic, and data analysis gaps) were identified and discussed. Participants concurred that there should be more regular workshops to ensure that the high standards of the SO-CPR program are maintained

Evaluating the function of wildcat faecal marks in relation to the defence of favourable hunting areas

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ethology Ecology and Evolution on 2015, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/03949370.2014.905499To date, there have been no studies of carnivores that have been specifically designed to examine the function of scent marks in trophic resource defence, although several chemical communication studies have discussed other functions of these marks. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that faecal marks deposited by wildcats (Felis silvestris) serve to defend their primary trophic resource, small mammals. Field data were collected over a 2-year period in a protected area in northwestern Spain. To determine the small mammal abundance in different habitat types, a seasonal live trapping campaign was undertaken in deciduous forests, mature pine forests and scrublands. In each habitat, we trapped in three widely separated Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) cells. At the same time that the trapping was being performed, transects were conducted on foot along forest roads in each trapping cell and in one adjacent cell to detect fresh wildcat scats that did or did not have a scent-marking function. A scat was considered to have a presumed marking function when it was located on a conspicuous substrate, above ground level, at a crossroad or in a latrine. The number of faecal marks and the small mammal abundance varied by habitat type but not by seasons. The results of the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) indicated that small mammal abundance and habitat type were the factors that explained the largest degrees of variation in the faecal marking index (number of faecal marks in each cell/number of kilometres surveyed in each cell). This result suggests that wildcats defended favourable hunting areas. They mark most often where their main prey lives and so where they spend the most time hunting (in areas where their main prey is more abundant). This practice would allow wildcats to protect their main trophic resource and would reduce intraspecific trophic competitio

A pilot randomized controlled study of the mental health first aid elearning course with UK medical students

Background: Medical students face many barriers to seeking out professional help for their mental health, including stigma relating to mental illness, and often prefer to seek support and advice from fellow students. Improving medical students’ mental health literacy and abilities to support someone experiencing a mental health problem could reduce barriers to help seeking and improve mental health in this population. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based intervention designed to improve mental health literacy and ability to respond to someone with a mental health problem. This pilot randomised controlled trial aims to evaluate the MHFA eLearning course in UK medical students. Methods: Fifty-five medical students were randomised to receive six weeks access to the MHFA eLearning course (n = 27) or to a no-access control group (n = 28). Both groups completed baseline (pre-randomisation) and follow-up (six weeks post-randomisation) online questionnaires measuring recognition of a mental health problem, mental health first aid intentions, confidence to help a friend experiencing a mental health problem, and stigmatising attitudes. Course feedback was gathered at follow-up. Results: More participants were lost follow-up in the MHFA group (51.9%) compared to control (21.4%). Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and non-ITT analyses showed that the MHFA intervention improved mental health first aid intentions (p = <.001) and decreased stigmatising attitudes towards people with mental health problems (p = .04). While ITT analysis found no significant Group x Time interaction for confidence to help a friend, the non-ITT analysis did show the intervention improved confidence to help a friend with mental health problems (p =<.001), and improved mental health knowledge (p = .003). Medical students in the intervention group reported a greater number of actual mental health first aid actions at follow-up (p = .006). Feedback about the MHFA course was generally positive, with participants stating it helped improve their knowledge and confidence to help someone. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated the potential for the MHFA eLearning course to improve UK medical students’ mental health first aid skills, confidence to help a friend and stigmatising attitudes. It could be useful in supporting their own and others’ mental health while studying and in their future healthcare careers

Providing mental health first aid in the workplace: a Delphi consensus study

BACKGROUND: Mental health problems are common in the workplace, but workers affected by such problems are not always well supported by managers and co-workers. Guidelines exist for the public on how to provide mental health first aid, but not specifically on how to tailor one\u27s approach if the person of concern is a co-worker or employee. A Delphi consensus study was carried out to develop guidelines on additional considerations required when offering mental health first aid in a workplace context. METHODS: A systematic search of websites, books and journal articles was conducted to develop a questionnaire with 246 items containing actions that someone may use to offer mental health first aid to a co-worker or employee. Three panels of experts from English-speaking countries were recruited (23 consumers, 26 managers and 38 workplace mental health professionals), who independently rated the items over three rounds for inclusion in the guidelines. RESULTS: The retention rate of the expert panellists across the three rounds was 61.7&nbsp;%. Of the 246 items, 201 items were agreed to be important or very important by at least 80&nbsp;% of panellists. These 201 endorsed items included actions on how to approach and offer support to a co-worker, and additional considerations where the person assisting is a supervisor or manager, or is assisting in crisis situations such as acute distress. CONCLUSIONS: The guidelines outline strategies for a worker to use when they are concerned about the mental health of a co-worker or employee. They will be used to inform future tailoring of Mental Health First Aid training when it is delivered in workplace settings and could influence organisational policies and procedures

Surveying an institution's assessment mechanisms towards new measures of success

Widening participation can create challenges of student retention, an issue being constantly addressed by such initiatives as increased student support. Supposedly 'elite' universities, it has been argued, attract 'better' students, a term largely defined in terms of academic success. The research presented here argues that 'better' is entirely misleading and invites reflection as to whether a change from traditional didactic assessment approaches to more innovative modes could enhance achievement, success and therefore retention by recognising and recording the qualities of a student populace with widely varying experiences and talents without undermining academic rigour. An analysis of the types of assessment within a widening participation university as recorded on the validated module database against the highest weighting level revealed a wide variety of imaginative approaches to measuring student engagement reflecting the commitment and professionalism of staff in providing an educational context that is varied and meaningful. Whilst acknowledging this strength, it is argued that further flexibility is required to more exactly measure student abilities, both in assessment timing and form, the emphasis presently being very much upon tutor-led modes with insufficient attention given to recognising the potential of students to contribute to the assessment process. Present assessment modes can therefore perhaps be viewed as an additional barrier and there is a need to reflect upon form to recognise more fully student ability

The 14-19 Diplomas and universities. A marriage of convenience?: Edge Hill University Research Exchange Seminar Series

The Diplomas being introduced from September 2008 will soon need to be carefully evaluated as an entry qualification to university. They represent a move towards a more competency based structure of assessment with an attempt to provide a link between preparing for employment, skill acquisition and more traditional academic study. Such a wide remit it is argued provides significant pedagogical challenges for universities particularly as the Advanced Diploma is to be accredited as an equivalent to three and a half A-levels. It is suggested the change might create a new shift towards training which raises challenging questions as to how universities might reappraise their approaches to teaching and learning. The ambitious timescale for their implementation is noted and the ideological context which is felt to be driven by government perceived economic imperatives is briefly outlined