Development and Evaluation of an Undergraduate Science Communication Module

This paper describes the design and evaluation of an undergraduate final year science communication module for the Science Faculty at the University of East Anglia. The module focuses specifically on science communication and aims to bring an understanding of how science is disseminated to the public. Students on the module are made aware of the models surrounding science communication and investigate how the science culture interfaces with the public. During the module they learn how to adapt science concepts for different audiences and how to talk confidently about science to a lay-audience. Student motivation for module choice centres on the acquisition of transferable skills and students develop these skills through designing, running and evaluating a public outreach event at a school or in a public area. These transferable skills acquired include communication, interaction with different organisations such as museums and science centres, developing understanding of both the needs of different audiences and the importance of time management. They also develop skills relating to self-reflection and how to use this as a tool for future self development. The majority of students completing the module go on to further study, either a PhD, MSc or teacher training. The module can be sustained in its present formed if capped at 40 students, however it is recognised that to increase cohort size, further investment of faculty time and resources would be required

Postdeployment military mental health training: Cross-national evaluations

Deployments increase risk for adjustment problems in service members. To mitigate this increased risk, mental health training programs have been developed and implemented in several nations. As part of a coordinated effort, three nations adapted a U.S. mental health training program that had been validated by a series of group randomized trials demonstrating improvement in postdeployment adjustment. Implementation of evidence-based programs in a new context is challenging: How much of the original program needs to remain intact in order to retain its utility? User satisfaction rates can provide essential data to assess how well a program is accepted. This article summarizes service member ratings of postdeployment mental health training and compares ratings from service members across four nations. The participating nations (Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States) administered mental health training to active duty military personnel in their respective nations. Following the training, military personnel completed an evaluation of the training. Overall, across the four nations, more than 70% of military personnel agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the mental health training. Although some differences in evaluations were observed across nations, components of training that were most important to overall satisfaction with the training were strikingly similar across nations. Fundamentally, it appears feasible that despite cultural and organizational differences, a mental health training program developed in one nation can be successfully adapted for use in other nations

Insomnia, Psychiatric Disorders and Suicidal Ideation in a National Representative Sample of Active Canadian Forces Members

Background Past research on the association between insomnia and suicidal ideation (SI) has produced mixed findings. The current study explored the relationship between insomnia, SI, and past-year mental health status among a large Canadian Forces (CF) sample. Method Data was obtained from the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey (CFMHS), and included a large representative sample of Canadian Regular Forces personnel (N = 6700). A series of univariate logistic regressions were conducted to test individual associations between past-year mental health status, insomnia, and potential confounds and SI. Mental health status included three groups: 0, 1, or two or more probable diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD) and alcohol abuse/dependence. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between insomnia and SI with mental health status as a moderator. Results 40.8% of respondents reported experiencing insomnia. Both insomnia and number of mental health conditions incrementally increased the risk of SI. However, past-year mental health status was a significant moderator of this relationship, such that for CF personnel with either no (AOR = 1.61, 1.37–1.89) or only one past-year mental health condition (AOR = 1.39, 1.12–1.73), an incremental increase in insomnia was associated with an increased likelihood of SI. However, in personnel with two or more past-year mental health disorders, insomnia was no longer significantly associated with SI (AOR = 1.04, 0.81–1.33). Conclusions Insomnia significantly increased the odds of SI, but only among individuals with no or one mental health condition. Findings highlight the importance of assessing insomnia among CF members in order to further suicide prevention efforts

The physical and mental health of a large military cohort: baseline functional health status of the Millennium Cohort

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background:</p> <p>The US military is currently involved in large, lengthy, and complex combat operations around the world. Effective military operations require optimal health of deployed service members, and both mental and physical health can be affected by military operations.</p> <p>Methods:</p> <p>Baseline data were collected from 77,047 US service members during 2001–2003 as part of a large, longitudinal, population-based military health study (the Millennium Cohort Study). The authors calculated unadjusted, adjusted, and weighted means for the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Survey for Veterans physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores over a variety of demographic and military characteristics at baseline.</p> <p>Results:</p> <p>The unadjusted mean PCS and MCS scores for this study were 53.4 (95% confidence interval: 53.3–53.4) and 52.8 (95% confidence interval: 52.7–52.9). Average PCS and MCS scores were slightly more favorable in this military sample compared to those of the US general population of the same age and sex. Factors independently associated with more favorable health status included male gender, being married, higher educational attainment, higher military rank, and Air Force service. Combat specialists had similar health status compared to other military occupations. Having been deployed to Southwest Asia, Bosnia, or Kosovo between 1998 and 2000 was not associated with diminished health status.</p> <p>Conclusion:</p> <p>The baseline health status of this large population-based military cohort is better than that of the US general population of the same age and sex distribution over the same time period, especially in older age groups. Deployment experiences during the period of 1998–2001 were not associated with decreased health status. These data will serve as a useful reference for other military health studies and for future longitudinal analyses.</p

Humanities for the Future: a new European Agenda

FGW – Publications not associated with a particular research are

Research-led teaching and learning in higher education A study commissioned by the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee of the University of East Anglia

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:m01/39790 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Badania rozwoju teleomorfy grzyba Mycosphaerella graminicola [Fuckel] Schroeter na lisciach pszenicy z Polski i Czech

The aim of the work was to study the development of pseudothecia of M. graminicola. The experiment was carried out in 2002/2003. Wheat leaves collected at Kończewice (near Toruń), Słupia Wielka (near Poznań) and Kroměříž (Czech Republic) were kept on an experimental field in Warsaw. The pseudothecia were observed under the light and transmission electron microscopy. The first pseudothecia were observed on the dead leaves at the end of July. The largest number of fruiting bodies were noted in October. During the whole period of observation fruiting bodies contained asci in several stages of development. Most of them were immature. In spring the pseudothecia were not found.Celem pracy były badania nad rozwojem pseudotecjów grzyba Mycosphaerella graminicola. Obserwacje prowadzono przez cały sezon wegetacyjny w latach 2002/2003 na polu doświadczalnym w Warszawie (Ursynów, SGGW). Materialem roślinnym były martwe, porażone przez patogena liście pszenicy ozimej pochodzące z ZD IHAR Kończewice (woj. kujawsko-pomorskie), Stacji Hodowli Roślin w Słupi Wielkiej (woj. wielkopolskie) i z Agricultural Research Institute Kroměříž Ltd. (Czechy). Liście były przechowywane na specjalnej konstrukcji, wykonanej z drewnianej ramy, na której umocowano gęstą, plastikową siatkę. Wykładano na nią liście z objawami septoriozy paskowanej liści pszenicy i otoczniami grzyba M. graminicola, następnie przykrywano drugą siatką. Przebieg rozwoju otoczni ustalano na podstawie okresowych obserwacji makro- i mikroskopowych (raz w tygodniu latem i jesienią oraz 2 razy w miesiącu zimą i wiosną). Celem ich było określenie czasu pojawiania się kolejnych struktur grzyba, tj. ukształtowanych pseudotecjów, worków i zarodników workowych. Sporządzono dokumentację fotograficzną ilustrującą poszczególne etapy rozwoju otoczni grzyba M. graminicola z użyciem mikroskopu świetlnego i transmisyjnego. Pierwsze pseudotecja grzyba obserwowano na obumarłych liściach pod koniec lipca. Największą liczbę otoczni notowano w październiku. W ciągu całego okresu obserwacji pseudotecja zawierały worki w różnych stadiach swego rozwoju. Większość z nich była niedojrzała. Wiosną pseudotecja patogena nie były już znajdowane

Epifitoza brunatnej plamistosci lisci w uprawie pszenicy i pszenzyta - badania porownawcze

Development of tan spot epiphytosis in wheat and triticale has been investigated during three years of cropping seasons 1998-2001. The infection level of plants was scored in four stages of cereals development at the end of tillering (GS 29), shooting (GS 35-37), heading (GS 55-59) and milk maturity (GS 73-77). The monitoring performed on population of 327 wheat and 352 triticale genotypes indicated that the both cereals can be heavy infected by P. tritici-repentis, although the reaction of these hosts differed significantly. On triticale developed small, minute black spots usually without typical for wheat yellow halo. Moreover, the progress of tan spot of triticale over time was less rapid and disease intensity lower in the all plant growth stages during three years of studies.Badano rozwój epifitozy brunatnej plamistości liści w uprawie pszenicy i pszenżyta w okresie trzech sezonów wegetacyjnych obejmujących okres 1998-2001. Stopień porażenia roślin oceniano stosując pięciostopniową skalę i przeprowadzano w fazach: krzewienia, strzelania w źdźbło, kłoszenia i dojrzałości mlecznej zbóż. Wykonany monitoring obejmujący populację 327 genotypów pszenicy i 352 pszenżyta wskazał, że obydwa gatunki mogą ulegać silnemu porażeniu. Stwierdzono, że porażenie pszenżyta we wszystkich fazach rozwojowych trzech kolejnych sezonów wegetacyjnych było istotnie niższe niż pszenicy a przebieg epifitozy mniej gwałtowny. Poza istotnymi różnicami o charakterze ilościowym na pszenżycie w początkowych fazach rozwoju choroby reagowało tworząc bardzo drobne nekrozy bez typowego dla pszenicy halo