Bournemouth University

During reading, adults and children independently parafoveally encode letter identity and letter position information using a flexible letter position encoding mechanism. The current study examined parafoveal encoding of letter position and letter identity for dyslexic children. Eye movements were recorded during a boundary‐change paradigm. Parafoveal previews were either an identity preview (e.g., nearly), a transposed‐letter preview (e.g., enarly) or a substituted‐letter preview (e.g., acarly). Dyslexic readers showed a preview benefit for identity previews, indicating that orthographic information was encoded parafoveally. Furthermore, dyslexic readers benefitted from transposed‐letter previews more than substituted‐letters previews, demonstrating that letter identity was encoded independently to letter position during parafoveal processing. Although a transposed‐letter effect was found for dyslexic readers, they demonstrated a reduced sensitivity to detect transposed‐letters in later measures of reading, that is, go‐past times, relative to that found for typically developing readers. We conclude that dyslexic readers, with less rich and fully specified lexical representations, have a reduced sensitivity to transpositions of the first two letters of the upcoming word in preview. These findings are compatible with the view that orthographic representations of dyslexic children are not sufficiently specified.

Aims/Purpose: To present the annual rates of post‐intravitreal injection endophthalmitis at Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) over an eight‐year period from 01/02/2016 until 31/01/2024. Methods: The total number of intravitreal injections performed was identified retrospectively from our electronic records. The cases of post‐injection endophthalmitis were identified from the department's written logbook record. Results: Over the above 8‐year‐period, a total number of 13 cases of endophthalmitis were identified. The total number of injections performed over this 8‐year‐period was 54,134. The annual endophthalmitis rates fluctuated from a minimum 0% (year 01/02/2016 until 31/01/20217) to a maximum of 0.05% (year 01/02/2019 until 31/01/2020). Mean annual endophthalmitis rate over this 8‐year‐period was 0.025%. 1 case occurred after an intravitreal Ozurdex injection and 12 following anti‐VEGF injections. Conclusions: Despite the increasing number of injections every year, we noted that our endophthalmitis rates were consistently much lower than the estimated rate of 1 in 1000 (0.1%) in the literature. We postulate that our current standard local protocols and practices which include the use of sterile gloves, sterile drapes, face masks and pre‐injection instillation of povidone iodine in the fornix have played a pivotal role in keeping the annual endophthalmitis rates very low. Furthermore, the introduction of novel agents of biosimilars to Ranibizumab (Ongavia) and Faricimab (Vabysmo) which are withdrawn from vials and are not available in pre‐filled syringes did not have any adverse impact on our endophthalmitis rates. In 2014, the administration of chloramphenicol 0.5% antibiotic eye drops post‐intravitreal injections were stopped permanently. In 2016, specialist nurse injectors were introduced in our clinical practice. Based on our endophthalmitis rates over this 8‐year‐period, these two important changes in the clinical practice do not seem to have had a negative impact in our annual endophthalmitis rates. Our aim is to continue auditing our rates annually in order to ensure that we are a safe to practice macular unit and to maintain high quality patient care.

Purpose This study aimed to explore emotional functioning in individuals with varying levels of orthorexia nervosa (ON) symptoms. Given the established links between emotion dysregulation and other eating disorders (EDs), and the conceptualization of ON within the ED spectrum, this research sought to examine the relationships between ON symptomatology and emotion regulation strategies, alexithymia, and beliefs about emotions. Methods A large sample (N = 562) completed self-report measures with high psychometric properties, assessing ON traits (E-DOS), emotion regulation strategies (DERS-SF and ERQ), alexithymia (TAS-20), and beliefs about emotions (ERQ). The study used well-validated measures to address limitations of previous research. Results Individuals with high ON traits demonstrated difficulties in most aspects of emotional functioning compared to those with low ON traits. Suppression, but not reappraisal, partially mediated the relationship between beliefs about emotions and ON symptoms. Believing emotions are bad or useless, difficulty controlling impulses, and relying on suppression to regulate emotions were most strongly associated with ON symptoms. Conclusion This study provides evidence that emotion dysregulation plays an important role in ON symptomatology. The findings suggest that when emotions feel unhelpful or uncontrollable, and maladaptive strategies like suppression are employed, individuals may seek perceived control through pathologically 'healthy' eating. There is currently no diagnosis criteria for ON, and consequently no clear treatment pathway. Our research suggests that specific aspects of emotional functioning such as beliefs about the usefulness of emotions or difficulties with feeling out of control when upset may be a useful treatment target to help individuals with ON develop healthier coping mechanisms and reduce reliance on rigid dietary rules as a means of emotional regulation. Level of evidence. Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies.

Purpose of Review This scoping review explores the influence of social media influencers in promoting gambling to children and young people, addressing concerns about their vulnerability to gambling advertisements on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch. Recent Findings A scoping review of 41 studies highlights that influencers use subtle, relatable strategies to normalise gambling behaviours. Despite regulatory changes, children and young people are still significantly exposed to gambling content. Influencers’ promotional tactics increase engagement and lower perceived risks of gambling, yet there is limited research on the long-term impact of this exposure. Summary Stricter regulations are urgently needed to reduce children and young people’s exposure to influencer-driven gambling content. Mandatory sponsorship disclosures and age verification measures are essential. Targeted interventions, including educational campaigns, should be prioritised to raise awareness of the risks associated with influencer marketing and gambling. These steps are critical to protecting vulnerable children and young people from potential gambling-related harms.

Introduction The study’s primary goal is to investigate differences in postprandial glycaemic response (PPGR) to beverages with varying glycaemic index (i.e. low and medium) between breast cancer survivors (BCS) with chronic pain and healthy pain-free controls (HC). The secondary goal of the study is to investigate the potential link between PPGR and pain-related outcomes in BCS with chronic pain. Methods In this study, 15 BCS and 15 HC were included. After 12 h of fasting, subjects were randomised between drinking a beverage made with 50 g of sucrose (medium) or isomaltulose (low) within 250 ml water. Blood glucose levels were monitored at fasting as well as at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min following beverage consumption. Furthermore, each participant was evaluated using several experimental pain measurements, including pressure pain thresholds (PPT), electrical detection threshold, electrical pain threshold, temporal summation and electrical offset analgesia (OA). Results The BCS group had significantly higher PPGR to sucrose (p = .001) than the HC group. Furthermore, when PPGR to sucrose was compared to PPGR to isomaltulose within the groups, the BCS group showed a considerably larger difference (p = .012). Additionally, correlation analyses indicated both positive and negative associations between PPGR after sucrose intake and specific pain measurements (PPT-tibialis (r = .599), OA (rs = − .549), respectively) in BCS, and a positive association between the difference in PPGR between sucrose and isomaltulose and PPT-tibialis (r = .622). Conclusion These findings suggest that medium glycaemic index beverage intakes result in significantly higher blood glucose responses (i.e. PPGR) than low-glycaemic index beverage intakes in BCS. Additionally, BCS show an impaired glycaemic response to medium glycaemic index beverage intake and that the impaired glycaemic response might be related to pain sensitivity and endogenous analgesia in BCS. Furthermore, the higher glycaemic response to sucrose and greater difference in the amount of change in PPGR (when isomaltulose was substituted for sucrose) compared to HC highlight the importance of understanding how dietary choices with a lower glycaemic index can alter glycaemic regulation in BCS with chronic pain.

Roman writers found the relative empowerment of Celtic women remarkable¹. In southern Britain, the Late Iron Age Durotriges tribe often buried women with substantial grave goods². Here we analyse 57 ancient genomes from Durotrigian burial sites and find an extended kin group centred around a single maternal lineage, with unrelated (presumably inward migrating) burials being predominantly male. Such a matrilocal pattern is undescribed in European prehistory, but when we compare mitochondrial haplotype variation among European archaeological sites spanning six millennia, British Iron Age cemeteries stand out as having marked reductions in diversity driven by the presence of dominant matrilines. Patterns of haplotype sharing reveal that British Iron Age populations form fine-grained geographical clusters with southern links extending across the channel to the continent. Indeed, whereas most of Britain shows majority genomic continuity from the Early Bronze Age to the Iron Age, this is markedly reduced in a southern coastal core region with persistent cross-channel cultural exchange³. This southern core has evidence of population influx in the Middle Bronze Age but also during the Iron Age. This is asynchronous with the rest of the island and points towards a staged, geographically granular absorption of continental influence, possibly including the acquisition of Celtic languages.

Introduction Cold water swimming has increased in popularity and women wish to swim throughout pregnancy. There is a lack of evidenced‐based guidance to make decisions about the safety of immersion in cold water during pregnancy. Methods Closed social media groups were asked for specific questions in relation to cold water swimming and pregnancy. This highlighted concerns including water temperature, risks to the mother and fetus, and water quality. To find evidence‐based answers, a series of meetings brought together clinicians and researchers with expertise in cold water physiology, exercise physiology, fertility, obstetrics, neonatology, midwifery, water epidemiology, public health and representatives from the Open Water Swimming Society and an Open Water swimming social enterprise. Results Published data were examined via a scoping review process and four studies and eight reports were identified. Recommendations were made with evidence graded (mostly grade 4 expert opinion). Conclusion Research gaps highlight the need for research to enable accurate advice to determine whether it is safe for pregnant women to swim outdoors in cold water.

The choice of extractant for estimating plant-available potassium (K) in mica-rich soil has not been universally established. In order to evaluate and monitor the complex chemical performance of K in K-rich soil, and subsequently, its availability in crops, a suitable extractant protocol that takes into consideration soil properties in relation to rice plant parts (root, shoot, and grain) uptake becomes necessary. Nine laboratory soil K extraction methods to estimate the K content using 63 soil samples collected from nearly 21 mica mines, encompassing a wide range of properties across different agricultural lands. While extraction using ammonium acetate is the widely used for soil K testing, other methods have also been proposed for estimating crop-available K. Among the various extractants tested, 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate at pH 8.5 (mean 132.24 mg/kg) gave the best results for estimating the K content in mica-rich soil from agricultural areas near mica mines. Additionally, the soil water-soluble K extractant showed promise for rice plant parts such as root, shoot, and grain K uptake, as indicated by a correlation coefficient of 0.94, 0.94, and 0.93 respectively. Based on the artificial neural network (ANN) and Sobol (variance-based method for determining how different input variables contribute to the output variance of a model) methods, water-soluble K and the Mehlich 3 extraction procedure showed the best results for suitable extractable forms of K and a positive impact on K uptake by rice grain. Taylor (a graphical tool used to compare various models) diagram used for comparing multiple machine learning algorithms, multivariate adaptive regression spline and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) emerged as the best-fit models for determining the contribution of each extractant to rice K uptake. Considering soils derived from weathered parent materials often have negative K balances, which could lead to negative of plant-available K.

This chapter presents a critical analysis of the UK’s online safety ecosystem, arguing that it has devolved into a safeguarding dystopia. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the chapter explores how disjointed interactions between policy makers, educational institutions, social services, and the media create a system that fails to meet the nuanced needs of young people. Through case studies, including incidents of victim-blaming and overreliance on punitive measures for teen sexting, the chapter demonstrates that the ecosystem prioritizes prohibitive and reactionary responses over empathetic, evidence-based support. By focusing narrowly on legislative and policy measures at the macrosystem level, stakeholders often neglect essential support within the microsystem and mesosystem, exacerbating mistrust among young people and diminishing their willingness to disclose online harms. Ultimately, the chapter advocates for a paradigm shift towards youth-centred approaches that prioritize supportive, informed engagement across all levels of the ecosystem to genuinely protect and empower young people online.

This chapter highlights the gap between policy makers’ perspectives and young people’s actual concerns about online harms. Based on a survey of over 16,000 young people, the chapter reveals that youths primarily worry about peer conflict, social media pressures, and distressing current events, rather than the extreme content that often dominates policy discussions. The findings suggest that while policy makers advocate for restrictive measures against platforms, young people place more value on knowledgeable, supportive adults who understand the digital issues they face. The chapter also discusses the erosion of trust in adults, especially educators, who are often perceived as poorly informed, leading many young people to rely on peers for support. These insights underscore the need for a youth-centred approach in online safety, emphasizing effective education, empathetic adult involvement, and support that aligns more closely with young people’s lived experiences.

This book examines the evolution of online safety policy for children in the UK and beyond, analysing shifts in legislative efforts from 2017 to 2023, including the enactment of the UK Online Safety Act 2023. Building on prior work, we explore the concept of an online safeguarding dystopia, where well-meaning but restrictive policies limit children’s rights under the guise of protection. By applying Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, the text dissects the “online safety ecosystem”, which involves various stakeholders—from policy makers to educators and families—who impact children’s online experiences. The book critiques a dominant reliance on technological and punitive measures, arguing that such approaches ignore the complex, contextual nature of children’s lives and often fail to align with youth voices. It highlights a disconnection between policies intended to keep children safe and the practical realities they face. Ultimately, the author calls for an evidence-based, multi-stakeholder approach to online safety, one that embraces empowerment, education, and a nuanced understanding of the risks children face, to foster a digital environment that genuinely serves their best interests.

This chapter explores the role of media-driven moral panics in shaping public perceptions of online safety and influencing policy responses to child online harms. Using high-profile cases such as the “Momo challenge” and concerns around grooming during COVID-19 lockdowns, the chapter illustrates how sensationalist media narratives amplify perceived threats to child safety, often leading to reactive rather than evidence-based policies. By examining historical moral panics, including the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, the text highlights recurring cycles of fear fuelled by exaggerated media coverage, public anxiety, and reactive policy making. Applying Stanley Cohen’s framework, the chapter analyses how these moral panics contribute to a rhetoric of platform scapegoating and misplaced liability on tech companies. Emphasizing the need for critical media literacy and evidence-based approaches, the chapter argues for a balanced and informed response to online safety, advocating for strategies that prioritize actual risks and meaningful support for young people’s digital experiences.

This chapter analyses the political and ideological factors shaping the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, presenting it as a case study of the rhetorical and legislative landscape around child online safety. Tracing the act’s development from early policy discussions, the chapter critiques a “duty of care” model that centres on platform liability, emphasizing an ideological stance that seeks to control tech industry practices. The chapter examines the growing trend of “platform scapegoating”, where complex societal issues like child safety are attributed largely to digital platforms, sidelining other influential factors. By contextualizing the Act within broader international policies such as Australia’s Online Safety Act 2023 and the EU’s Digital Services Act, the text explores the global convergence towards a regulatory stance prioritizing punitive measures over multi-stakeholder involvement. Through an analysis of the path-dependent and isomorphic tendencies in policy making, this chapter reveals how the UK’s legislative approach to online safety, driven by political rhetoric and platform liability, overlooks the nuanced needs of young people and effective harm reduction strategies.

This concluding chapter reflects on the systemic flaws and persistent challenges within online safety policy, particularly regarding its alignment with young people’s needs and experiences. It critiques the policy path dependency and regulatory isomorphism that favour punitive and platform-centric approaches over proactive, evidence-based, and youth-centred strategies. The chapter highlights the inefficacy of current frameworks, such as the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, that emphasize stringent platform liability while failing to address the complex causes of online harm. Drawing from youth voices and historical insights, the chapter advocates for a shift towards a holistic model based on ecological systems theory, engaging stakeholders across the child’s microsystem to macrosystem in collaborative, educational, and supportive roles. Ultimately, it calls for a progressive paradigm in online safety policy that prioritizes harm reduction, digital literacy, and the active participation of young people, positioning their welfare and voices at the centre of future interventions.

This study investigates the pervasive impact of patriarchy on the lives and roles of millennial Chinese women. Through a qualitative methodology incorporating in-depth, semi-structured online interviews with 16 participants, the research uncovers how rooted patriarchal and Confucian values continue to influence these contemporary women’s educational, career, and personal life choices. Despite some societal changes and a push towards gender equality, findings indicate that traditional norms remain influential, often reinforced through familial pressures rooted in the Confucian philosophy of “filial piety.” Participants expressed a common experience of gender biases and discrimination, both within their families and broader societal structures, such as in educational and workplace settings. These biases manifest as a preference for male offspring and greater societal expectations placed upon women in their familial and marital roles. The study highlights that while millennial Chinese women are increasingly aware of and resist patriarchal norms, they often adopt coping strategies that blend resistance with compliance with societal expectations. The findings underscore a critical need for a broader societal shift towards genuine gender equality. The study advocates for multifaceted approaches that involve educational reforms and cultural negotiations to dismantle entrenched patriarchal structures. It calls for empowering women through increased awareness and education about gender equality as essential steps toward mitigating the impact of patriarchy and advancing women’s rights in contemporary China.

Anadromous salmonids migrate seaward to exploit feeding and growth opportunities in marine habitats, yet how smolt biological characteristics influence their marine migratory behavior remains poorly understood. This study used 9 years of trout (Salmo trutta) population monitoring data from 15,595 tagged age‐0+ parr, 1033 smolts detected migrating downstream in spring, and 99 adults detected returning from their first marine migration to the River Frome (Dorset, UK) to investigate the influence of smolt biological characteristics on their migration timing and maiden marine sojourn duration. Age‐specific differences in the influence of smolt length on migration timing were found, with longer 1‐year‐old smolts emigrating later than their shorter counterparts within the same age class, but the opposite association existed for 2‐year‐old smolts. A bespoke integrated statistical model quantified the effects of smolt emigration day of year, age, sex, and length on the probability of first‐time migrants returning to the river after one or more sea winters. Younger, later migrating smolts had a longer marine sojourn duration than their older, earlier migrating counterparts, and females remained at sea for longer periods than males. Although the statistical model was designed to maximize the use of information available in the data, it revealed only weak effects of smolt biological characteristics on the maiden marine sojourn duration. A complementary simulation study suggested that detecting more spring migrating smolts and analyzing longer time series of trout population monitoring data would increase the ability to detect statistically significant effects. Therefore, a strategic review of the trout population monitoring program, including more long‐term biological data collection, is recommended. The modelling work presented here can provide guidance on the size of the required dataset and how to maximize the power of imperfect data.