Heteroatom-doped core/shell carbonaceous framework materials : synthesis, characterization and electrochemical properties

Organic-inorganic hybrid core@shell nanospherical particles with 200 nm to 600 nm in diameter were formed between cyclomatrix poly(organophosphazenes) (POP) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) in a methanol solution at room temperature. This facile synthesis route produced core@shell spheres with controlled structure and properties, such as mono-dispersed particles, 50 nm to 100 nm shell thickness, surface area of 1557 m2 g-1 and homogenously doped Zn and heteroatoms (N, S, P, O, Cl). The POP/ZIF-8 core@shell structures were subsequently converted into porous carbonaceous materials, and investigated as anode materials in a lithium-ion coin cell battery. It showed a stable discharge capacity of 538 mA h g-1 over 250 cycles, high rate capability (0.1 C to 1 C) and excellent capacity retention, which are promising for rapid charge-discharge applications. Higher ZIF-8 loading ratio in the core@shell structure increased the capacity of the electrode material and stablised the lithiated active materials. The facile synthesis method and the carbonaceous framework materials are applicable for high performance energy storage materials in electrochemical power devices

Assessing the effectiveness of the ‘‘human givens’’ approach in treating depression: a quasi experimental study in primary care

Purpose: This paper aims to present the findings of research commissioned by a Primary Care Trust in the UK to assess the implementation of a new pilot Human Givens mental health service (HGS) within primary care. Method: Participating General Practitioners practices were designated as either ‘Human Givens’ or ‘Control’ practices. The study focused on service users with mild to moderate depressed mood measured using HADS. The well-being of these participants was examined at the point of referral, and after four, eight and 12 months using three well being questionnaires. Findings: The results revealed that emotional well being significantly improved during the first four months following referral for both groups and this improvement was maintained up to and including one year post referral. Human Givens therapy was found to be shorter, lasting 1-2 sessions in duration compared to standard treatment which lasted on average four sessions. Originality/value: Apart from the psychological insight and emotional support, Human Givens therapy helps the client to better function in society and maintain their sense of social integration. This has benefits to other providers of social care

The emotional needs audit (ENA): a report on its reliability and validity

Purpose – To broaden the range of well-being outcomes that can be measured for patients with depressed mood and/or other mental health issues the aim is to determine the reliability and validity of a self-reported instrument that was designed by the Human Givens Institute to evaluate emotional distress (emotional needs audit – ENA). Design/methodology/approach – The ENA was administered to 176 patients, aged between 18-65 years (mean age: 39.2 years). The acceptability of the ENA was examined as well as its internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas). ENA was administered at four time points and test-retest reliability was conducted between times 1 and 2. The data from three scales also administered to these patients (SWLS, CORE-OM and HADS) were used to aid the conduct of the ENA construct validity (concurrent and discriminant). Analysis of the ENA sensitivity/specificity was also performed. Findings – All the ENA items (except one) were shown to have good acceptability. The internal consistency was also very strong (Cronbach's alpha: 0.84); the construct validity also revealed positive results for the ENA: concurrent validity (r=0.51-0.62; p<0.001); discriminant validity (r=0.22-0.28; p<0.01). Test-retest reliability was r=0.46 (p<0.001). Finally, ENA demonstrated high sensitivity (80 per cent), and moderate specificity (35 per cent). Originality/value – ENA was shown to be a valid and reliable instrument for measuring wellbeing, quality of life and emotional distress. It also allows insight into the causes of symptoms, dissatisfaction and distress. It is suggested that this tool has complementarity to standardised tools when used in clinical practice

Admixture and reproductive skew shape the conservation value of ex situ populations of the Critically Endangered eastern black rhino

Small populations of endangered species risk losing already eroded genetic diversity, important for adaptive potential, through the effects of genetic drift. The magnitude of drift can be mitigated by maximising the effective population size, as is the goal of genetic management strategies. Different mating systems, specifically those leading to reproductive skew, exacerbate genetic drift by distorting contributions. In the absence of an active management strategy, reproductive skew will have long-term effects on the genetic composition of a population, particularly where admixture is present. Here we examine the contrasting effects of conservation management strategies in two ex situ populations of the Critically Endangered eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli), one managed as a semi-wild population in South Africa (SAx), and one managed under a mean-kinship breeding strategy in European zoos. We use molecular data to reconstruct pedigrees for both populations and validate the method using the zoo studbook. Using the reconstructed pedigree and studbook we show there is male sex-specific skew in both populations. However, the zoo’s mean-kinship breeding strategy effectively reduces reproductive skew in comparison to a semi-wild population with little genetic management. We also show that strong male reproductive skew in SAx has resulted in extensive admixture, which may require a re-evaluation of the population’s original intended role in the black rhino meta-population. With a high potential for admixture in many ex situ populations of endangered species, molecular and pedigree data remain vital tools for populations needing to balance drift and selection

Discovery of a single male Aedes aegypti (L.) in Merseyside, England

© The Author(s). 2017. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated. The file attached is the published (publishers PDF) version of the article

By staff and for staff: building, sustaining and empowering a community of practice in teaching and learning for all university staff

VicTeach was established in 2013 as a part of a Learning and Teaching Development initiative. VicTeach promotes cross-disciplinary dialogue between Victoria staff who are interested in pedagogy, sharing best practice, implementing new teaching approaches, and participating in and disseminating research on teaching and learning. It has become a particularly helpful network for academics interested in developing and informing their own teaching practice, but for whom education is not their main disciplinary focus; and for general staff supporting these academics in their teaching and student support. Regular bi-monthly meetings have addressed issues such as: new technologies and pedagogies, supporting Maori and Pasifika students, large classes, internships and placements, social media, flipped teaching, active learning and transition from high school. Meetings are held around the distributed VUW campus, streamed live, and archived for future-viewing. The community itself also continually tests, promotes, and profiles new technologies that all Victoria staff can use in teaching. Every seminar in the VicTeach programme attempts to include: • Best practice examples from a real teaching scenario Pedagogical grounding / research related to the topic, technology, or teaching concept Academic staff championing the topic/ technology / teaching concept Support staff with expertise in the area, or able to support development of this technology/ concept Time for discussion Over 200 academic and general staff members from across the university voluntarily subscribe to the VicTeach listserv and approximately 20-45 attend each event. The group is led by a volunteer steering committee consisting of academics from all Faculties, teaching award winners, and representatives from the Centre for Academic Development, Student Learning, the Library, and IT Support. This structure has been designed to ensure the organisation is sustainable and can continually respond to staff needs in learning and teaching. Future plans include the development and support of research hubs which will foster cross–disciplinary initiatives into particular aspects of teaching and learning. VicTeach appears to address an unfilled professional development need for Victoria University staff. In a survey conducted at the end of the first year the community reported that they had gained value from VicTeach, and most appreciated that it is pan-University, pan-staff, self-selecting, occurring at a regular time, gras