2,548 research outputs found
Mental health: future challenges
The aim of the Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing(www.foresight.gov.uk) is to advise the Government on how to achieve the best possible mental development and mental wellbeing for everyone in the UK in the future. The starting point of the Project was to generate an understanding of the science of mental capital and wellbeing (MCW) and to develop a vision for how the size and nature of the challenges exposed by the Project could evolve over the next 20 years. To make this analysis tractable, the work was divided into five broad areas: ● Mental capital through life ● Learning through life ● Mental health ● Wellbeing and work, and ● Learning difficulties. This report presents the findings for “Mental health” and draws upon a comprehensive assessment of the scientific state-of-the art: overall, around 80 reviews have been commissioned across the five areas. Mental health is a term which is used in a number of different ways and which has unfortunately acquired a substantial stigma in all layers of society. While the main focus of this report is on mental ill-health, positive mental health is also vitally important and is also discussed. However, a more comprehensive consideration of positive mental health has been performed in other parts of the Project (as commissioned reviews and in the context of the future of work. This report starts by looking at the situation today, examining the prevalence of important categories of mental disorder. It then considers the risk and protective factors which influence mental ill health, and determines how its prevalence and impact could change in the future, if existing policies and expenditure remain broadly unchanged. An assessment of strategic choices and interventions to meet the future challenges of mental health (and the challenges associated with the other four areas listed above) will be documented in the final Project report which is due for publication in the autumn of 2008
Topological Signals of Singularities in Ricci Flow
We implement methods from computational homology to obtain a topological
signal of singularity formation in a selection of geometries evolved
numerically by Ricci flow. Our approach, based on persistent homology, produces
precise, quantitative measures describing the behavior of an entire collection
of data across a discrete sample of times. We analyze the topological signals
of geometric criticality obtained numerically from the application of
persistent homology to models manifesting singularities under Ricci flow. The
results we obtain for these numerical models suggest that the topological
signals distinguish global singularity formation (collapse to a round point)
from local singularity formation (neckpinch). Finally, we discuss the
interpretation and implication of these results and future applications.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figure
Game-based training to promote arithmetic fluency
The research team designed and evaluated a mobile game to promote rapid retrieval of arithmetic facts among a group of children aged 7–8 years (n = 97). The design of the game was based on principles drawn from research literature in mathematical cognition, game-based learning, and game design. The game trains basic number knowledge within a motivating context. It tested an implication of theory of automatization of arithmetic facts that training of recognition of multiples of single-digit numbers should lead to greater fluency in solving multiplication and division problems. A quasi-experimental design was employed to test whether the game improves retrieval of arithmetic facts. Children played the game in their classrooms for 20 min a day for 2 weeks. Comparisons between pre- and post-tests showed that the game playing group outperformed controls with a medium to large effect size (>0.6). These results suggest an improvement in arithmetic fluency equivalent to around 7 months' progress and provide rare empirical evidence supporting transfer of game-based training to a pencil-and-paper test. The findings are consistent with a connectionist theory of arithmetic skill, by showing that improved recognition of multiples contributes to multiplication and division skill. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed
Researching adaptivity for individual differences in numeracy games
There is increasing evidence that mathematics video games can play a large role in mathematics education, in support of children's learning. However, despite the interdisciplinary nature of the subject, research in this area has traditionally been fragmented between disciplines. The RAIDING project was conceived to bring together researchers in neuroscience, maths cognition, and game-based learning to develop a maths game that can act as a research platform for furthering knowledge in this field. The game will employ free-to-play design elements, alongside an adaptive learner model to investigate how children learn maths, through a range of empirical studies
The role of reward and reward uncertainty in episodic memory
Declarative memory has been found to be sensitive to reward-related changes in the environment. The reward signal can be broken down into information regarding the expected value of the reward, reward uncertainty and the prediction error. Research has established that high as opposed to low reward values enhance declarative memory. Research in neuroscience suggests that high uncertainty activates the reward system, which could lead to enhanced learning and memory. Here we present the results of four behavioural experiments that examined the role of reward uncertainty in memory, independently from any other theoretically motivated reward-related effects. Participants completed motivated word learn- ing tasks in which we varied the level of reward uncertainty and magnitude. Rewards were dependent upon memory performance in a delayed recognition test. Overall the results suggest that reward uncer- tainty does not affect episodic memory. Instead, only reward outcome appears to play a major role in modulating episodic memory
Cost of post-deployment screening for mental illness in the UK military: findings from a cluster randomised controlled trial
Background: Little is known about the economic impact of military mental health screening.
Aims: To investigate (1) whether post-deployment screening of military personnel affects use and cost of services and (2) the impact of psychiatric morbidity on costs.
Methods: Participants were recruited from UK Royal Marine and Army platoons and randomised to an intervention group (which received tailored advice predicated upon mental health status) or a control group (which received general advice following assessment of mental health status). The intervention costs were calculated while service use and associated costs were assessed at 12 month follow-up.
Results: Data were available for 6,323 participants. Mean screening cost was £34. Service costs were slightly higher in the control group compared to the intervention group (£1,197 vs. £1,147) which was not statistically significant (bootstrapped 95% CI, -£363 to £434. In both groups, screening and control, costs were significantly higher for those who screened positive for mental health problems.
Conclusion: Costs were not affected by screening. In countries which have already implemented post-deployment screening, the political cost of disinvestment needs careful consideration. Those
who develop psychiatric morbidity have substantially higher care costs than those who do not
Teaching Innovation as Part of an Agribusiness Curriculum
Innovation is critical to the survival of agricultural businesses in the U.S. yet few universities have classes in their curricula that focus on innovation and innovation management. Innovation includes developing new processes and concepts and taking products based on those ideas to market. By its nature, innovation generally involves technical components, market assessment, business analysis, and implementation strategies that include marketing campaigns to a target market. As a result, if innovation is going to be experientially taught to students, the class will likely need to include concepts from multiple disciplines. The objectives of this paper are to present an outline of capstone/senior design classes designed to cause students to learn innovation by participating in interdisciplinary teams working with real companies on the development of new product innovation.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,
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Understanding needle-related distress in children with cystic fibrosis
Objective. To explore the nature and management of needle-related distress in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF).
Design. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
Methods. Fourteen child–parent dyads took part. Children (5 male; 9 female) had a mean age of 12.4 years (range 7–17) and were mostly diagnosed with CF at birth (N= 11). Frequency of needle procedures ranged from once to six times a year. Parents (3 male; 11 female) had a mean age of 41.5 years and were from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
Results. Most participants identified previous needle experiences and pain as related to their needle anxiety. Over half of parents and children considered ‘taking control’ to be the optimum coping strategy. The majority of parents and children thought inhaled nitrous oxide gas during needle procedures was helpful in managing needle-related distress. Parent and staff influences on needle-related distress are also examined.
Conclusions. Needle-related distress in children with CF has a substantial impact on children and their parents, and may lead to management problems and treatment refusal. Psychological and pharmacological interventions could reduce distress and aid management
The Lantern Vol. 21, No. 2, Spring 1953
• Package from the Past • Objective Abstraction No. 1 • The Streetlamp • Journey Home • Rendezvous • The Admonition • Easter Thought • Summer Thought • The Understanders • Nocturne • Night and the City • Study in Shadow • Southern Mountain Song • The Introvert • Conflict • A Moment in Flight • Hiatus • Night Search • To a Cat • Lines to a Rejected Contributor • The Old Professorhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1059/thumbnail.jp
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