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Inspiring the chefs of tomorrow with Ashley Marsh [Podcast]
No full textIn this episode, James Golding speaks with chef lecturer and food-education advocate Ashley Marsh, a member of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, educator at the University of West London, and lead for the Chefs Adopt a School programme. His career spans professional kitchens, international events and extensive community outreach, all driven by a commitment to building young people's confidence and curiosity through food.
Ashley shares how his passion began with family influences especially his grandmother and uncle and how cooking helped him gain confidence as a teenager. Early career experiences in Australia taught him discipline and the value of strong mentors. After time in business and industry catering, he moved into education, combining practical expertise with a mission to support the next generation of chefs.
At the University of West London, Ashley focuses on practical skills, leadership, sustainability and seasonality. He and James discuss the importance of collaboration between hospitality and education to attract and retain new talent.
Ashley outlines the Chefs Adopt a School programme, which teaches taste and sensory exploration, knife skills and cooking to help children understand food origins, build confidence, and try new ingredients. With many families lacking time or confidence to cook at home, school engagement becomes crucial and the results are immediate: children grow more curious and willing to taste new foods.
The conversation highlights challenges young people face, from social media pressure to increasing anxiety around food. Ashley believes food education provides grounding, community and resilience. He shares memorable stories from working with young people and about his annual Christmas volunteering with Ronald McDonald House, where cooking for families reinforces the emotional impact of hospitality.
James and Ashley compare international food cultures, reflecting on Italian festivals where teenagers confidently prepare traditional dishes. These experiences reinforce Ashley's belief that the UK needs stronger food engagement across homes, schools and communities.
Ashley also uses pure maple syrup in teaching to discuss seasonality, provenance, natural sweetness and healthier alternatives to refined sugar showing how any ingredient can spark learning.
The episode closes with a call for deeper partnerships between chefs, schools and the hospitality sector, and a more positive narrative about careers in food. Ashley believes hospitality offers creativity, opportunity and global pathways and that early, inspiring food education helps young people grow in confidence and find their place in the industry.
Follow https://www.instagram.com/alice.fevronia/ and Maple from Canada UK www.instagram.com/maplecanadauk/ for more seasonal recipe inspiration
Fathers’ Experiences of Relationship Breakdown Including Post-Separation Abuse and Parental Alienating Behaviours.
Full text linkBackground: Family breakdown, separation, and divorce (FBSD) are often traumatic events, particularly for fathers who face unique challenges. These include emotional, psychological, and financial struggles, often exacerbated by abusive behaviours from ex-partners. This study explores fathers’ experiences of FBSD, focusing on both the breakdown event itself and any abuse, including coercive control and parental alienation, before and after the separation. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, including a survey of 141 men and follow-up interviews with 30 participants. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes related to FBSD and associated abuse. Results: Fathers reported significant emotional, psychological, and financial distress, with many experiencing ongoing abuse and coercive control after separation. Abuse often continued through legal processes and manipulation of child access. Parental alienation emerged as a prominent form of post-separation abuse, with fathers describing attempts by ex-partners to undermine their relationships with their children. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for gender-inclusive services that address the specific challenges fathers face during and after FBSD, particularly in relation to post-separation abuse. Targeted interventions are necessary to support fathers’ well-being and ensure their continued involvement in their children’s lives
Physical activity reduces the incidence of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults
Full text linkPurpose of the research:
The aim of this study was to investigate associations between physical activity and risk of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults.
Methods:
This was a longitudinal study based on a subset of UK Biobank data consisting of 1,918 participants (902 men and 1,016 women, mean age 56 years) who had no sarcopenia at baseline based on the criteria of European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). The participants were assessed again after 6 years at follow-up, and were categorized into no sarcopenia, probable sarcopenia, or sarcopenia using EWGSOP2. Physical activity was assessed at baseline using 7-day acceleration data that were analysed to obtain physical activity dose at different intensities. Multinominal logistic regression was employed to examine the association between the incidence of sarcopenia and physical activity dose, between baseline and follow up, controlled for other factors at baseline including age, sex, BMI, smoking status, intake of alcohol, vitamin D and calcium, history of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, secondary osteoporosis, and type 2 diabetes.
Results:
Among the 1918 participants with no sarcopenia at baseline, 230 (69 men and 161 women) developed probable sarcopenia and 37 (14 men and 23 women) developed sarcopenia at follow-up. Logistic regression models showed that increase in physical activity dose at moderate-to-vigorous intensity significantly reduced the risk of sarcopenia (odds ratio = 0.368, p0.05), while physical activity dose at light or very light activity intensity were not associated with the risk of sarcopenia or probable sarcopenia (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
Physical activity at moderate-to-vigorous intensity could reduce risk of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults
The application of an integral-equation-based automatic inversion algorithm for interpretation of vertical electrical sounding data.
Full text linkThis study presents the implementation of an automatic inversion algorithm designed for the analysis of direct current (DC) vertical electrical sounding (VES) data, utilizing a one-dimensional (1D) linear integral equation approach. The forward modelling problem was derived from a three-dimensional (3D) integral equation, which was elegantly simplified through numerical integration across horizontal dimensions. The inverse problem was tackled through a minimum length solution that integrated a depth-weighting function and optimized the regularization parameter based on the maximum value of the forward operator. The efficacy of this algorithm was validated by inverting synthetic datasets as well as by its application to real field data. The results highlighted the limitations inherent in 1D inversion, particularly in cases where a layered Earth is significantly violated, as evidenced by comparisons with two-dimensional inversion models. In contrast, in contexts characterized by predominantly layered subsurface structures, the algorithm successfully produced accurate representations of the subsurface models. These findings underscore the method's efficacy in various geological environments, offering a robust tool for geophysical exploration
Emergence of mcr-8.1-bearing MDR-hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae ST307.
Full text linkWe report for the first time whole-genome sequencing of four multidrug-resistant sequence type (ST) 307 Klebsiella pneumoniae recovered from patients in two hospitals in Armenia. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the isolates were closely related, with a maximum of 39 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) differences in the core genome. All Armenian isolates carried the integrative and conjugative element ICEKp4, which bears the yersiniabactin locus, and shared a common evolutionary origin, diverging around 2005 (95% CI: 1999 to 2011). Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed resistance to several antibiotics, including ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cefepime, ceftazidime, norfloxacin, levofloxacin, and chloramphenicol. Specifically, isolates designated as ARM03 and ARM06 were resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam, ARM04 and ARM05 had intermediate resistance to both piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem, and ARM03 showed intermediate resistance to amikacin. We further identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in four Armenian isolates, including blaOXA-1, blaTEM-1D, blaSHV-28, dfrA14, tet(A), sul2, qnrB1, aac(6´)-Ib-cr, strA, strB and the extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene blaCTX-M-15. Additionally, ARM03 and ARM06 also obtained dfrA5, sul1, sul3, cmlA1, mphA, aph3-Ia and the unique colistin resistance gene mcr-8.1, which was absent in all other publicly available ST307 isolates. These two isolates also acquired aerobactin siderophore-encoding gene clusters (iucABCD-iutA) and the hypermucoidy locus rmpADC (ARM06 had rmpA fragment). ARM04 and ARM05, as well as ARM03 and ARM06, had nearly identical AMR and virulence genes, along with similar plasmid replicon profiles, respectively. Our findings suggest that a transmission event occurred between the two hospitals in Armenia, likely facilitated by patients or community members, during which K. pneumoniae ST307 isolates acquired plasmids carrying AMR and virulence genes. Copyright © 2024 Sheng et al
Improving the sustainability of reinforced concrete structures through the adoption of eco-friendly flooring systems
Full text linkFollowing World War II, rapid economic growth in construction and increasing urban demand led to excessive extraction of natural resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, forests, and land. To address significant global challenges—including resource consumption, air pollution, and climate change—radical changes have been proposed over the past decades. Prioritizing sustainability in construction has become a crucial focus in project design. This research investigates the carbon emissions associated with various reinforced concrete (RC) slab systems, including solid slabs, voided slabs, and precast floor systems, to identify the most environmentally sustainable option. The results demonstrate that beam and slab floors and solid slabs have the highest embodied carbon due to significant use of concrete and related materials, whereas voided slabs and two-way joist floors exhibit lower carbon emissions. The two-way joist system is identified as the most environmentally advantageous option. For precast floor systems, post-tensioned concrete and hollow-core slabs demonstrate the lowest embodied carbon levels. This research provides practical recommendations for architects and engineers aimed at enhancing sustainable design methodologies, emphasizing the importance of incorporating low-carbon materials and pioneering flooring technologies in future construction initiatives to support global sustainability objectives
An intelligent Battery Management System for an electric vehicle powered by solar PV array
Full text linkImplementing a Battery Management System (BMS) in Electric Vehicles (EVs) offers several benefits that enhance the efficiency, security, and durability of the vehicle's battery system. The BMS oversees and controls the performance of each cell in the battery pack, guaranteeing that they function within predetermined voltage and temperature thresholds to maintain safety. In this paper, an intelligent BMS for an EV model powered by a solar PV array was proposed using a fuzzy logic (FL) controller. The proposed method was applied to EVs consisting of four Lithium-ion batteries. The simulation results are achieved using MATLAB/Simulink software. The estimation of the state of charge (SOC) for each battery was used as input to the FL which controls the discharging/ charging mode for each battery via power semiconductor switches. Three different scenarios are used to verify the suggested method. A full control FL operation was obtained, and the batteries were protected successfully against overcharging and over-discharging
Digital forensics investigations and network security issues in tracking the trails of cybercriminals
Full text linkThe application of digital forensics investigations (DFI) and the legal implications in network security have become imperative due to increased connectivity and cyberattacks. The DFI process requires investigating computers and their associated media to determine if they have been used to commit a crime or gain unauthorized access. However, in a network environment, attackers can intercept, interrupt, modify content, and modify contents and fabricate the victims. Thus, it is imperative that these cyberattacks are considered from a legal perspective considering the challenges. The paper explores the digital forensics investigations process and its legal implications from network security to assist in determining indicators of compromise, attribution, and prosecution. The contribution of the paper is threefold. First, we explore DFI challenges from a network security perspective, including the legal and the standards. Secondly, we implement attacks on a network and use DFI tools such as Splunk to detect interruptions, modifications, and disruptions during the investigation process. Finally, we discuss some DFI challenges that impinge on national and international law during investigations and prosecutions and recommend improvement. The results show that the DFI process in the network security environment is relevant in detecting, preventing, and prosecuting these threats
Impact of relationship breakdown, including abuse and negotiation of co-parenting arrangements, on fathers’ mental health, help-seeking and coping
Full text linkBackground: This study explores the impact of family breakdown, separation, post-separation abuse, and negotiating of co-parenting arrangements on fathers’ physical and mental health, as well as their coping mechanisms and experiences of support, both informal and formal.
Methods: Using data from a survey of 141 fathers and interviews with 30 participants, we ex-amined the impact of family breakdown on fathers and their children and how they coped and were supported. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify key themes.
Results: Findings highlighted four primary themes: the impact on fathers, the impact on children, their strategies for coping, and their experience of formal and informal support.
Conclusions: The results indicate a need for greater support mechanisms for fathers post-separation and in ways that specifically appreciate their unique experiences as men and fathers
Research group: democratising pedagogy through autoethnography
No full textThis chapter is about teaching autoethnography, and how employing arts-based research within a group supervision format can facilitate this. It’s also about engaging in a type of teaching that supports students to become empowered, to make a journey of discovery that they may not have been expecting. It’s a story about the building of relationships that dismantle traditional power dynamics between faculty and students, such that we may move closer to a democratised pedagogy. Our story is told in four acts, narrated by Kitrina, Chloe and Joshua, with further extracts and contributions from Katie, James and Henry. Act One offers a scene setting journey to becoming a supervisor, focussing the kinds of events and interactions that may lead to questioning received from pedagogical expectations around supervision. Act Two shows how our research group were brought together. Act Three explores some of the epiphanies and insights that emerged during group supervision through stories, emails and reflections. Act Four offers some closing reflections