A pre-post evaluation of OpenMinds:A sustainable, peer-led mental health literacy programme in universities and secondary schools

Engaging young people in the design and delivery of mental health education could lead to more effective interventions; however, few of these interventions have been evaluated. This study aimed to gain preliminary evidence with regards to the efficacy and acceptability of OpenMinds: a peer-designed and facilitated mental health literacy programme for university and secondary school students. The programme involves a structured programme of education and training for university medical students, who then deliver workshops in secondary schools. Pre- and post-surveys were completed by 234 school students who received two workshops and 40 university medical students who completed the OpenMinds programme and delivered the workshops. The main outcomes in both groups were components of mental health literacy (non-stigmatising attitudes, knowledge, social distance and helping attitudes). Perceived teaching efficacy and interest in mental health careers (university medical students) and workshop acceptability (school students) were also examined. University and school student participation in OpenMinds was associated with significant improvements in three of four mental health literacy elements in both samples. Knowledge and attitudes improved in both samples, social distance improved only in the university sample and knowledge of helping behaviours increased in the school sample. University students' perceived teaching efficacy improved but there was no change in their reported interest in pursuing psychiatry in their career. Acceptability was high; over 70% of the school students agreed that they enjoyed the workshops and liked being taught by a university student. This study provides preliminary evidence for the acceptability and efficacy of OpenMinds as a sustainable peer-led model of mental health education for young people. The OpenMinds programme is ready for efficacy testing in a randomised trial

Bioassays to evaluate the resistance of whole plants to the herbivorous insect thrips

Thrips are tiny, cell-content–feeding insects that are a major pest on crops and ornamentals. Besides causing direct feeding damage, thrips may also cause indirect damage by vectoring tospoviruses. Novel resistance mechanisms to thrips need to be discovered and validated. Induction of jasmonic acid–dependent defenses has been demonstrated to be essential for resistance to thrips, but underlying mechanisms still need to be discovered. For this, it is vital to use robust plant-thrips assays to analyze plant defense responses and thrips performance. In recently developed high-throughput phenotyping platforms, the feeding damage that is visible as silver spots, and the preference of thrips in a two-choice setup is assessed, using leaf discs. Here, we describe whole-plant thrips assays that are essential for (1) validation of findings obtained by the leaf disc assays, (2) assessment of longer-term effects on thrips feeding success and fecundity, (3) determination of spatial-temporal effects induced by primary thrips infestation on a secondary attack by thrips or other insects or pathogens, and (4) assessment of gene expression and metabolite changes. We present detailed methods and tips and tricks for (a) rearing and selection of thrips at different developmental stages, (b) treatment of the whole plant or an individual leaf with thrips, and (c) determination of feeding damage and visualization of thrips oviposition success in leaves

Bioassays to evaluate the resistance of whole plants to the herbivorous insect thrips

Thrips are tiny, cell-content–feeding insects that are a major pest on crops and ornamentals. Besides causing direct feeding damage, thrips may also cause indirect damage by vectoring tospoviruses. Novel resistance mechanisms to thrips need to be discovered and validated. Induction of jasmonic acid–dependent defenses has been demonstrated to be essential for resistance to thrips, but underlying mechanisms still need to be discovered. For this, it is vital to use robust plant-thrips assays to analyze plant defense responses and thrips performance. In recently developed high-throughput phenotyping platforms, the feeding damage that is visible as silver spots, and the preference of thrips in a two-choice setup is assessed, using leaf discs. Here, we describe whole-plant thrips assays that are essential for (1) validation of findings obtained by the leaf disc assays, (2) assessment of longer-term effects on thrips feeding success and fecundity, (3) determination of spatial-temporal effects induced by primary thrips infestation on a secondary attack by thrips or other insects or pathogens, and (4) assessment of gene expression and metabolite changes. We present detailed methods and tips and tricks for (a) rearing and selection of thrips at different developmental stages, (b) treatment of the whole plant or an individual leaf with thrips, and (c) determination of feeding damage and visualization of thrips oviposition success in leaves

Temporal population variability in local forest communities has mixed effects on tree species richness across a latitudinal gradient

10.1111/ele.13412Ecology Letters231160-17

Steps that count!: The development of a pedometer-based health promotion intervention in an employed, health insured South African population

Background: Physical activity (PA) has been identified as a central component in the promotion of health. PA programs can provide a low cost intervention opportunity, encouraging PA behavioral change while worksites have been shown to be an appropriate setting for implementing such health promotion programs. Along with these trends, there has been an emergence of the use of pedometers as a self-monitoring and motivational aid for PA.This study determines the effectiveness of a worksite health promotion program comprising of a 10-week, pedometer-based intervention ("Steps that Count!"), and individualized email-based feedback to effect PA behavioral change. Methods. The study is a randomized controlled trial in a worksite setting, using pedometers and individualized email-based feedback to increase steps per day (steps/d). Participant selection will be based on attendance at a corporate wellness event and information obtained, following the completion of a Health Risk Appraisal (HRA), in keeping with inclusion criteria for the study. All participants will, at week 1 (pre-intervention), be provided with a blinded pedometer to assess baseline levels of PA. Participants will be provided with feedback on pedometer data and identify strategies to improve daily PA towards current PA recommendations. Participants will thereafter be randomly assigned to the intervention group (INT) or control group (CTL). The INT will subsequently wear an un-blinded pedometer for 10 consecutive weeks.Individualized feedback messages based on average steps per day, derived from pedometer data (INT) and general supportive/motivational messages (INT+CTL), will be provided via bi-weekly e-mails; blinded pedometer-wear will be conducted at week 12 (post-intervention: INT+CTL). Discussion. The purpose of this paper is to outline the rationale behind, and the development of, an intervention aimed at improving ambulatory PA through pedometer use, combined with regular, individualized, email-based feedback. Pedometer-measured PA and individualized feedback may be a practical and easily applied intervention. Trial registration. Number: DOH-27-0112-3951