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An overview of national and international long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake recommendations for healthy populations
No full textThe long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) are beneficial for health. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of worldwide dietary recommendations for LC n-3PUFA across life-stages for general healthy populations from technical and scientific documents (TSD) that underpin food based dietary guidelines (FBDG) or TSD from expert groups. Using the Food and Agriculture Organization global online repository of FBDG and structured Google searches, forty-two TSD were identified for inclusion. Seventy-one percent of TSD included quantitative dietary intake recommendations which varied widely across life-stages with gaps for some groups, 62% included health messages related to LC n-3PUFA consumption, 33% discussed supplementation and 29% gave guidance on high intakes. The most frequently recommended intakes for adults were 250 mg/day EPA+DHA and 250 mg/day EPA+DHA plus an additional 100-200 mg/day DHA in pregnancy. This overview is useful for nutrition science, medical, industry and consumer communities since it identifies the recommendations available and the gaps of interest to national or international groups wishing to set dietary intake recommendations for LC n-3PUFA. Low dietary intake of LC n-3PUFA from seafood is a risk factor for suboptimal health. Intake recommendations can be challenging to achieve. Most countries for which data are available show that LC n-3PUFA intakes fail to meet recommended targets, highlighting the need for accessible, innovative, sustainable alternative EPA+DHA sources e.g. bio-enriched foods and supplements to support higher population intakes, LC n-3PUFA status and health benefits.</p
The Evolution of the SCOPUS Title Evaluation Platform (STEP), 2010 to 2025
No full textThe SCOPUS Title Evaluation Platform (STEP) has had a significant global influence on academic publishing. It is the portal through which peer reviewed academic journals apply for listing in the SCOPUS database. Listings of journals in SCOPUS brought status and reputational gain to a journal, attractiveness to authors, and major profitability to their publishers. STEP was developed as a unique computer based decision assistance tool for the academic journal assessors who comprised the newly formed SCOPUS Content Selection Advisory Board (CSAB) from 2010 onwards. It combined quantitative measurements with systematic qualitative evaluations of submitted journals against a set of agreed and published criteria, and it was based on trustworthiness across the academic ecosystem. Over the past three decades, there has been an explosion in the numbers of academic journals and their publishers. This has been a consequence of huge global growth in academic activity, and it has been made possible by digital and internet systems; by open access publishing; and by the shift from subscription based financing to Article Publishing Charge (APC) based financing. In parallel, there has been an explosion in publication fraud on a global scale in diverse forms and at high levels of sophistication. In this essay, I aim to describe the creation, implementation and adaptation of STEP in a rapidly changing world to advance the processes of academic quality assurance, and the incremental addition of powerful functions to help assessors recognise and address the malign forms of fraud. These in turn are a perverse testimony to the importance that is attached globally to a SCOPUS listing<br/
The space of authority: liturgy and music at St Andrews in 12th-13th centuries
No full textThis dissertation re-examines the making of liturgical identity at St Andrews between c.1100 and c.1300. It argues that the cathedral was not a passive recipient of English or Continental practices but a site of “liturgical authorship”, where imported forms were selectively adapted and given a distinctively Scottish voice. Drawing on manuscripts, charters, and architecture, the study shows how monarchy, Augustinians, and Céli Dé together shaped a hybrid liturgical culture that expressed both continuity and reform.The first chapter situates St Andrews within the politics of Scottish kingship. It shows how royal patronage—through the promotion of St Andrew’s cult, diocesan organisation, and episcopal appointments—used the Church to consolidate authority and assert independence from York and Canterbury. Chapter 2 reassesses the Céli Dé, challenging narratives of decline. It demonstrates that they survived as secular canons, retained episcopal support, and contributed actively to liturgical practice, often in negotiation and tension with the Augustinians. Chapter 3 turns to architecture, reading St Rule’s, St Mary on the Rock, and the cathedral as ritual spaces designed to stage Sarum-based liturgy while accommodating local devotions. Chapter 4 analyses Pn12036 and W1, especially Fascicle XI, arguing that Sarum entered Scotland early through Augustinian networks and was then re-voiced locally by the Céli Dé and cathedral clergy. Fascicle XI emerges as a purpose-built Marian cycle that reveals institutional authorship through its functional, restrained adaptation of Parisian techniques.Taken together, the chapters show how monarchy provided the framework, the Augustinians the transmission networks, and the Céli Dé the continuity of local tradition. Their interplay produced a distinctive liturgical identity at St Andrews that was both orthodox and innovative. By integrating historical, architectural, and musical evidence, the dissertation demonstrates how conflict between communities fostered integration and creativity, establishing St Andrews as a key centre in the development of liturgical practice and polyphonic music in medieval Scotland
Adherence to guidance about complementary feeding and Vitamin D supplementation in infants: the role of information sources
No full textAimTo identify the characteristics of parents with poor adherence to guidelines around introduction of solid foods and supplementation with Vitamin D, and to assess the role of different sources of information in adherence to these guidelines.DesignA cross-sectional survey which was part of a birth cohort study following pregnant mothers and their infants in a UK city.Methods390 parents who had consented to take part in a birth cohort study were sent a postal questionnaire when their infant was around 6 months old. 220 parents completed this questionnaire about their infants' diet and the sources of information they had used to make decisions about introducing complementary foods to their infant.ResultsAround half (54%) of parents adhered to current guidelines to delay the introduction of solid foods until after their infants were 24 weeks, and adherence to guidelines was positively associated with maternal age and education level as well as with the use of formal information sources such as a Health Visitor or leaflets. Vitamin D supplementation rates of infants by exclusively breastfeeding mothers were low (35%) but increased over time. The internet was a particularly significant source of information used by parents to make feeding decisions for their infants.ConclusionIn this sample, adherence to guidance around the introduction of solid foods and Vitamin D supplementation was low. Health professionals must develop strategies to communicate these guidelines more effectively
Beach monitoring: do we need to survey to spring low tide?
No full textWhen collecting coastal monitoring data, it is common practice to survey down to spring low tide to capture the maximum extent of the exposed subaerial beach. However, collecting topographic beach data is possible for only a few days per month. By reducing the seaward extent of the survey, the incurred costs and risks to the survey schedule could be greatly reduced. However, this would result in information loss at the lowest extremes of the subaerial beach. This study assesses the feasibility of predicting this part of the beach using deep learning neural networks based on partial beach profile data. A range of network architectures were tested alongside linear extrapolation, which was used as a baseline model. Each model was tested on three beaches with varying morphology, ranging from steep (reflective) to mildly sloping (dissipative). The presence of morphological features was found to play a dominant role in the accuracy of the predicted profiles; profiles with more pronounced cross-shore morphological features, such as sandbars, produced the highest error. While local connectivity of each network architecture was found to be the key factor in producing realistic profiles, the 1D Convolutional Neural Network was found to be the most effective with an average RMSE of between 0.026-0.119 m. This RMSE is not substantially larger than the vertical accuracy of current survey techniques (0.03 m), and the study found that errors of this magnitude have negligible effects when the survey data is used to calculate beach volumes and conduct numerical wave runup analysis to assess coastal flood risk
University of Southampton annual sustainability report: 2024-25
No full textThe University of Southampton's (UoS) vision is that by 2030, sustainability will be a part of everything the University does; our individual behaviours, how we work together, and how we make decisions for the future. This is key to achieving our mission of changing the world for the better. The Sustainability Strategic Plan (SSP) is one of ten Strategic Plans created to underpin and drive forward the overall University Strategy. The SSP was developed to deliver on its sustainability targets and sets out six Goals to achieve these targets as highlighted in Figure 1. The six Goals do not only address reducing our emissions, but also cover embedding sustainability in our teaching, research and investment .This is the second annual report on the development of the University of Southampton's Sustainability Strategic Plan and progress against its 6 Goals for the years 2024-25. The report provides a summary of the planned work across the 6 Goals, whereby the first three relate to our institutional emissions reporting under the various scopes of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Protocol. The latter 3 Goals of the Plan cover education, research, and investment
Opportunities for learning in parent-child discussions about written numbers in everyday life
No full textThis paper presents findings from the ‘Written Numbers in Everyday Life’ project, that has been implemented with families of 3–5-year-old children in the UK and Jamaica. The project aims at empowering families to utilise opportunities for talk about written numbers on everyday objects in their environment. We conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of 72 posts (39 from the UK, 33 from Jamaica) that participating families uploaded to an online platform. Three themes emerged in discussions that parents reported that they had with their child: comments with a conceptual focus, comments with a conceptual and mathematical/numerical focus, comments with a conceptual and social purpose focus. The findings provide insights into the wide-ranging opportunities for learning that arise when parents are prompted and supported to recognise and use numerals in the everyday environment, as a learning resource
Language policy and practice in ELT recruitment in Saudi higher education: a case study from a global Englishes perspective
No full textThis thesis investigates how language ideologies, particularly those surrounding the construct of ‘nativeness’, influence English Language Teaching (ELT) recruitment practices in Saudi higher education, with a focus on the University of South Saudi (USS). Situated within a global landscape where non-native English speakers (NNESs) now vastly outnumber native speakers, the study explores how the notion of the ‘native speaker’ is perceived, operationalised, and contested by recruiters, teachers, and students. Drawing on the Global Englishes (GEs) framework and Spolsky’s (2004) model of language policy, the research critically engages with the ideologies underpinning recruitment practices, highlighting how traditional preferences for native English-speaking teachers (NESTs) persist despite growing challenges from English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) scholarship. This includes critiques of ‘native speakerism’ as a discriminatory ideology that marginalises qualified NNESTs and undermines inclusive educational practices. Methodologically, the study employs Krippendorff’s (2004) content analysis to examine institutional recruitment documents; particularly job advertisements, and Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis to explore data drawn from semi-structured interviews with ELT recruiters and teachers, alongside student focus groups. The findings reveal a contradictory discourse: while recruitment policies and practices continue to privilege NESTs (often equated with whiteness and specific nationalities) there is an emerging shift towards valuing qualifications, pedagogical competence, bilingualism and cultural familiarity, especially within the context of Saudisation policies promoting local employment. The study contributes to the theoretical and practical development of ELT by challenging entrenched hierarchies and advocating for a more equitable and locally responsive model of teacher recruitment. It underscores the need to reconceptualise English language proficiency and teaching competence through the lens of Global Englishes, embracing linguistic diversity and fostering intercultural competence. In doing so, it calls for recruitment practices that align more closely with the sociolinguistic realities of English in a globalised and multilingual world
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and Risky Sexual Behaviours (RSB) in university students: the i-Share study
No full textBackground: Risky Sexual Behaviours (RSB) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both major concerns among university students. However, their association remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between ADHD symptoms and a broad range of RSB in university students.Methods: a total of 13,085 French students enrolled in the i-Share study (mean age: 20.6 years, SD = 2.4) completed self-reported questionnaires assessing ADHD symptoms (Adult Self-Report Scale v1.1), RSB, sociodemographic characteristics, and alcohol and cannabis use. Logistic regression models were used to examine the cross-sectional associations between ADHD symptoms and RSB, adjusting for relevant confounders.Results: a high level of ADHD symptoms was observed in 5.3% of students. In multivariate models, ADHD symptoms were associated with a wide range of RSB, including early first sexual intercourse (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 1.26; 95% CI: 1.06–1.51), inconsistent condom use in the last 12 months (aOR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.05–1.51), diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection in the last 12 months (aOR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.16–2.22), and having had multiple sexual partners in the last 12 months (adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR): 1.20; 95% CI: 1.14–1.27). Among female students, ADHD symptoms were associated with lower current use of any form of contraception (aOR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.48–0.71), and higher odds of having ever used emergency contraception (aOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02–1.47), and having ever had an abortion (aOR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.21–2.58).Conclusions: university students with a high level of ADHD symptoms are at increased risk of engaging in a wide range of risky sexual behaviours. Targeted preventive strategies may be particularly beneficial for this population.<br/
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