University of Roehampton

Purpose of Review Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder with several causal pathways including impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance (IR), compensatory hyperinsulinemia and excess androgens (hyperandrogenism). This heterogeneous condition causes a range of reproductive, metabolic and psychological implications, the severity of which can differ between individuals depending on factors such as age, diet, ethnicity, genetics, medication, contraceptive use, adiposity, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Recent Findings Dietary interventions that focus on a low glycaemic index and glucose control are an efficient first-line dietary solution for the management of impaired glucose tolerance and IR, which subsequently improves weight management, quality of life and PCOS-related symptoms in individuals with this condition. Summary This review aims to explore the relevance of nutrition and more specifically, the association of glycaemic index and glycaemic load with PCOS, as well as to assess the potential benefits of manipulating those indexes in the dietary approach for this syndrome.

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by increased blood sugar levels. Early detection of diabetes could help individuals to manage and delay the progression of this disorder effectively. Machine learning (ML) methods are important in forecasting the progression and diagnosis of different medical problems with better accuracy. Although they cannot substitute the work of physicians in the prediction and diagnosis of disease, they can be of great help in identifying hidden patterns based on the results and outcome of disease. Methods: In this research, we retrieved the PIMA dataset from the Kaggle repository, the retrieved dataset was further processed for applied PCA, heatmap, and scatter plot for exploratory data analysis (EDA), which helps to find out the relationship between various features in the dataset using visual representation. Four different ML algorithms Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), Naïve Bayes (NB), and Logistic regression (LR) were implemented on Rattle using Python for the prediction of diabetes among the female population. Results: Results of our study showed that RF performs better in terms of accuracy of 80%, precision of 82%, error rate of 20%, and sensitivity of 88% as compared to other developed models DT, NB, and LR. Conclusions: Diabetes is a common problem prevailing across the globe, ML-based prediction models can help in the prediction of diabetes much earlier before the worsening of the condition.

Higher education institutions constantly explore the teaching approaches, and adequate theoretical and cognitive contents designed for training practitioners. We gathered the practitioners’ perceptions of the existence and importance of skills and knowledge, and understand how technological intensity influences the importance of skill and knowledge requirements in technology management educational programs. The future curriculum development of technology marketing, management and innovation studies for graduate program requires the integration of industrial inexistence gaps at both national and international contexts.

The present study examined the associations between self-concept, academic achievement and adolescents’ participation in physical exercise and sports practice. The work extends previous research linking regular physical activity with self-concept by looking in detail at how different dimensions of self-perception may be linked to the regular practice of exercise and also to the adolescents’ school results. In addition, the present study adopted a gender specific approach to explore the relationship between the variables analysed. The sample included 1094 adolescents ranging in age between 12 and 18 years attending four different schools in the south of Portugal. The results suggest some clear gender differences in terms of levels of physical activity and how exercise and sports may shape the mental representations that adolescents develop about themselves in different dimensions of the self. More interesting is the finding that sports and physical exercise can support particular developmental changes in adolescent girls’ domain-specific self-perceptions, self-esteem and levels of academic achievement.

BACKGROUND: The District Health Information System (DHIS2) is a modular, cloud-based data management system designed for use in integrated health information systems. In Nigeria, it serves as the repository for routine health data, including measles. A first dose of measles is given routinely in most countries, however, for a country to include a second dose of measles in the routine immunization schedule, it must meet certain criteria set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Unfortunately, Nigeria falls into the category of countries that haven’t met the criteria. Despite this, MCV2 data can be seen on the DHIS2 platform. Data from DHIS2 also shows that Gombe State has the highest number of health facilities that reported MCV2 data at least once from 2015 to 2017. The aim of the study was to determine the reasons for the MCV2 reporting on DHIS2 platform for Gombe State. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional study among health workers in selected health facilities and LGA RI Officers at the LGA level in Gombe State. Health facility registers were reviewed, and data consistency was ascertained. We reviewed and conducted secondary data analysis of MCV2 data for Gombe State from January 2015 to December 2017. RESULTS: Of the 22 health facilities assessed, 14 health facilities (12 public and 2 private) reported offering MCV2 during the health facility-level interviews. At the LGA level, 5 LGAs out of the 11 LGAs reported during the LGA-level interviews that a second dose of measles is part of the RI schedule in their respective LGAs. For the 6 LGAs that reported not offering a second dose of measles as part of the RI schedule, 3 LGAs identified data entry error as the possible reason for having MCV2 data in the DHSI2 platform while the remaining 3 LGAs reported that the MCV2 data in the DHIS2 platform can be attributed to recording children who didn’t receive a first dose of measles at 9 months but received at 18–23 months as second dose of measles. CONCLUSION: Data entry error and knowledge gap on how to record measles data were identified factors responsible for MCV2 data on the DHIS2 platform. There is a need for targeted interventions towards improving the quality of RI data in Nigeria.

This is a joint reflection by a group of Christian scholars involved with transatlantic (African/Caribbean/British) theological initiatives, tackling questions of engagement and lack thereof between contemporary African and Caribbean Christian scholars. As we have observed/experienced, African and Caribbean scholars evince ‘selective amnesia’ around theologies and lived experiences across the Atlantic despite deep historical ties and shared African indigenous cosmological roots, with persistent and diverse traumatic legacies. Building on recent experiences convening/leading various transatlantic projects and consultations in Ghana, Jamaica, and Barbados, and including perspectives from our funder, USPG , we trace past transatlantic Christian engagement (mid-18th century to present). We identify post-independence political and economic crises as likely reasons for the fading of this discourse; argue that it is within the interest of African and Caribbean Christians and wider Christian scholarly community to transcend these past and ongoing traumas; and call for mutual (re)engagement and a transatlantic theology of repair/remaking.

This introductory chapter explores the pervasive issue of Islamophobia within UK higher education, a microcosm reflecting broader societal and institutionalised biases against Muslims. Against a backdrop of escalating Islamophobia nationally and globally, the chapter situates its analysis within the socio-political and cultural landscape of the UK, examining how such prejudice manifests in higher education. The chapter highlights the uniqueness of this edited collection which centers Muslim voices and offers practical recommendations for cultivating equitable university environments that enable Muslim students and staff to thrive. The chapter concludes by reiterating the edited collection as a vital resource for academics, policymakers, and practitioners committed to dismantling systemic Islamophobia and promoting inclusivity in education.

The South African education sector and businesses are concerned about whether higher education institutions could meet the demands and expectations of the labor market in the context of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Hence, it becomes essential to examine the perceived employability of work-integrated learning graduates within businesses in the context of the 4IR. This study seeks to examine employees’ perceptions of the influence of graduates’ abilities, self-efficacy, and effectiveness of work-integrated learning on their employability in the context of 4IR. The sample was obtained from employees from four South African firms (Syntech Ltd, Centrevo Ltd, Outsurance Ltd, and First National Bank Plc) in the information technology, sales, insurance, and banking industries. This study used a cross-sectional questionnaire. Of the 200 surveys randomly floated, 196 were fitting for scrutiny, cleaning, and analysis. Consequently, this study found that South African employees perceive graduates’ employability as being significantly and positively influenced by their abilities (β = .802, p < .001), self-efficacy (β = .815, p < .001), and work-integrated learning (β = .864, p < .001). In the third-step model, these three factors substantially impacted graduates’ employability more than other likely combination matrices. Therefore, 97% of South African graduates are perceived employable in the fourth industrial revolution era due to their abilities, self-efficacy, and participation in work-integrated learning. This investigation concludes that in the 4IR, the employability of South African graduates is mainly impacted by their self-efficacy, abilities, and the effectiveness of work-integrated learning. AcknowledgmentsWe thank the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management at the University of Johannesburg’s College of Business and Economics for funding this study and its publication.

The improvement of ship performance and propulsive efficiency has been addressed in this article. In this research, the comparative study has been investigated for a certain passenger vessel with the research results of Stapersma and Woud in their research “Matching Propulsion Engine with Propulsor” that has been published on Journal of Marine Engineering & Technology. After that, the marine propulsion plant system will be researched to enlarge the operational ranges between marine propeller-shaft system- marine diesel engines. A case study of passenger ship has been applied from this research namely Sea life Legend 02 in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The marine propulsion plant system of passenger ship will be designed in the Simulink/Matlab platform. Each functional block will be presented for the devices of the marine propulsion plant system, including the diesel engine, generator, shaft system, and marine propeller. The improvement of marine propulsion plant will be conducted on this proposed numerical model. The collected results have been shown the priority features of the marine propulsion plant system and they are fundamental to enlarge the propulsion performance of ship. The research results would be analyzed and validated with the actual marine propulsion plant system. This article is significant for ship-operators and ship-owners in the management of marine propulsion plant system for ships nowadays.

Increasing food insecurity (FI) in the UK has led to increased food bank usage ⁽¹⁾ . This underrepresents true levels of need, since many with FI utilise alternative coping strategies ⁽²⁾ . Food banks are designed to provide emergency food for a limited time, requiring referral with proof of need. They have been critiqued for this and their limited food choices ⁽³⁾ , which add to the stigma experienced by many clients ⁽⁴⁾ . Their nutritional quality has also been criticised ⁽³⁾ . The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) require action to address socioeconomic drivers of inequity. Several are nutrition-related including SDG2 (zero hunger) and SDG12 (responsible production and consumption) ⁽⁵⁾ . Part of SDG12 aims to halve per capita levels of food waste by 2030 ⁽⁵⁾ . Surplus food is often used to feed those with FI through community support schemes like social supermarkets, alternatives to food banks. This study evaluated social supermarkets to identify client experiences and perceptions of surplus food, food waste and stigma. Bespoke questionnaires were administered in two social supermarkets in Sussex on three site visits (n = 111). Additional optional telephone interviews (n = 25) were conducted. Ethics approval was obtained from Kingston University London. Of particular interest were client views on quality and choice of food available, and implications of this for SDG12. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was carried out to identify key themes, while quantitative data were statistically analysed to explore impact of demographics using Kruskal Wallis tests with posthoc Dunn’s and Bonferroni correction. Of particular interest were client views on the quality and choice of food available, and the implications of this for SDG 12. The majority (n = 102; 91.9%) agreed or strongly agreed that choosing what they ate rather than being given no choice mattered to them, while 76.6% (n = 85) agreed or strongly agreed that the social supermarket helped them to reduce food waste. Interviews revealed these were linked, and the impact on food waste was not solely due to the use of surplus food but to offering food choice with clients choosing what they and their families liked and would eat; being given no choice increased the likelihood of foods being wasted. [Social supermarket client quote] ‘I think [choice] is important, I hate, absolutely hate waste, I don’t agree with it, I don’t agree with throwing things away that you could eat. And if someone made that choice for you, you might not be able to eat it and want to eat it’. Food choice therefore increased client agency, reducing the potential for stigma and trauma. Using surplus food to feed those dealing with FI is problematic. Nonetheless, offering food choice represents a more client dignified experience with potential to reduce food waste, thereby arguably helping to achieve SDG12.

Community cafés are non-profit ventures tackling food insecurity (FI) locally and equitably, primarily using pay-as-you-feel models ⁽¹⁾ . FI is most prevalent in low-income and other vulnerable groups ⁽²⁾ , in whom poor diets and worse health also intersect ⁽³⁾ . Despite recognition that FI is largely driven by poverty and inequity ⁽⁴⁾ , FI individuals are often negatively judged ⁽⁵⁾ , risking further marginalisation. Community approaches to tackling both food waste and FI include community cafés, which frequently utilise surplus foods ⁽¹⁾ to produce fresh meals and/or donate surplus food to those in need. Beyond a nutritional impact, community cafés have the potential to offer marginalised groups a safe space and a feeling of inclusion, benefitting their mental health and wellbeing. The aim of this study was to explore the social impact of community cafés. Two linked community cafés in a London borough were evaluated to explore their social impact on clients. Both operated using pay-as-you-feel; neither required proof of need. Evaluations were undertaken using mixed methods on 9 site visits (November 2022 - April 2023). Bespoke questionnaires (n = 72) and 4 interviews were completed by clients, and 40 interviews with volunteers. Thematic analysis of qualitative data and Kruskal Wallis analysis (posthoc Dunn’s and Bonferroni correction) of quantitative data were carried out. Both cafés relied on surplus food. Their primary priorities were tackling food waste and the environment followed by addressing FI. Qualitative and quantitative data from interviews and questionnaires revealed that for many clients, social and food provision were equally important. This was especially true for older clients; significantly more of those aged ≥65 compared with those aged 18-24 yr visited for social reasons (p = 0.02). The most highly rated aspects of provision for clients were the friendliness of the people and the helpfulness of the staff (98.7 and 97.1% respectively). Being able to meet and talk was identified as important by 70.1% of clients. Anecdotally, this was especially important to marginalised groups like migrants and refugees. Since referral to the cafés was not needed, clients included individuals utilising them for environmental reasons as well as those affected by FI. This allowed mixing among groups who would not ordinarily meet. Volunteers also highlighted this as key to enable them to hear the stories of those they served. The mixed clientele not only helped build community but helped reduce stigma, since FI was not the sole reason for attending. For volunteers, the open and accepting nature of community provision which did not require referral or proof of need, was valued. The data suggest that community cafés have important value beyond nutrition, enabling formation of community networks and increasing understanding of the lived experience of those with FI.

The recent ONS survey reported that 92% of students had been affected by the cost-of-living crisis with 46% revealing their overall mental health and well-being had worsened ⁽¹⁾ . London Metropolitan University has a unique diverse student population: in 2020-21, 82% of students were mature, 64% of students identified as female, 55% of students were from a minoritised background and 13% had a known disability ⁽²⁾ . Furthermore, at least 50% of our students, many of whom have caring responsibilities, reside in the most deprived wards of Islington or other impoverished London boroughs. It has been documented that those students with families, who come from a low income and a minority background are more vulnerable ⁽³⁾ and are more likely to be disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis and at risk of food insecurity. We sought to ease the burden of the cost-of-living crisis with a recipe box scheme, BRITE Box ⁽⁴⁾ and evaluate its acceptance. BRITE Box provides a complete set of pre-weighed ingredients for a healthy nutritious meal with an easy-to-follow recipe guide. Each box typically contains two servings of vegetables, meat, bread and dairy, as well as spices, dried and tinned goods to feed a family of five people. We distributed 300 boxes over a period of five months to students primarily with families who had accessed the university hardship fund. Student volunteers and the academic staff pre-weighed the ingredients, prepared and distributed the boxes. The scheme was advertised through Student Services who administer the hardship fund, the Student Union and the intranet. The recipients of the boxes were provided with a QR code linking to a 20-item online survey on demographic characteristics, number of children, acceptability of the box and perceived advantages and disadvantages of the scheme. Ethics was approved by London Metropolitan University. Thirty-three participants completed the survey, 42% of the recipients identified as female, 55% were from a minority background and 30% had children. The responses showed that students agreed and strongly agreed that the recipe box introduced them to new flavours (52%), and new foods (42%). The majority followed the recipe and will use again (67%). Most importantly, 73% students agreed and or strongly agreed that it helped with the food budget and helped foster a sense of belonging to the university (85%). The scheme has proved to be popular among the students: “a really cool concept”, “it helped me cook”, “the box provided food for 3 days” and created a buzz around campus on distribution days. It has enhanced the feeling of community and belonging within the university, whilst also alleviating food insecurity and tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the UK food system ⁽¹⁾ . Currently, 46% of fruit and vegetables are imported ⁽¹⁾ , making the UK vulnerable. Recent events such as war in Ukraine, volatile fuel prices and crop failures attributed to climate change have exacerbated this ⁽¹⁾ , with global food prices reflected in the cost-of-living crisis ⁽²⁾ . Food is not just a source of nutrition, but of personal and cultural identity ⁽³⁾ , with potential to impact on the extent to which people feel that they belong to a place or community. Community food growing schemes such as allotments remain popular in the UK ⁽⁴⁾ . They could increase food resilience and security through growing produce, otherwise imported. The impact of a community growing scheme based in south London was explored. The scheme, a small farm allotment, was established by a Hong Kong farmer to grow produce including traditional Asian vegetables. It also aims to encourage collective efforts e.g. co-farming, through use of shared and private spaces. Focusing on traditional Asian vegetables, it offers bespoke advice, support and education via workshops, online mentoring and traineeships. Evaluation of this scheme was undertaken with ethics approval from Kingston University London. Using participatory non-extractive methods, qualitative and quantitative data were obtained using questionnaires and optional interviews with attendees of workshops (n = 52), online mentees (n = 2), and trainees (n = 3). All participants described themselves as Asian, Chinese or Hongkongers. More than two thirds (69.1%) had been in the UK for a relatively short time (up to 24 months). Both experience of, and knowledge about, growing food were low amongst participants, although this varied by group. While none of the trainees had previous food growing experience, half of online mentees and more than quarter (26.9%) of workshop attendees had some. All of the online mentees and over half (53.8%) of workshop attendees described themselves as having some knowledge about growing food. The most common reasons given for their involvement were an interest in urban growing/agriculture and practical (rather than theoretical) skills acquisition. Asian vegetables had multiple meanings for participants. Most commonly, they related to aspects of home, demonstrating the importance of culturally specific foods in evoking memories of people, place and time. Asked whether taking part in growing could help them build a sense of belonging within the UK Hong Kong community, responses were almost entirely affirmative for a variety of reasons. This highlights the multiple roles of food in people’s lives, and the potential for food to be used as a bridge between different groups, and as a bridge between their original and current homes. It also emphasises the role that growing food could play in cultural identity and pride, potentially building belonging as well as food resilience.

Community cafés are non-profit setups seeking to address food insecurity (FI) locally and equitably usually using a pay-as-you-feel model and surplus foods ⁽¹⁾ . Concerns about rising levels of FI ⁽²⁾ and food waste ⁽³⁾ frequently drive this model. Started in 2023, the Kitchen Roots Café (KRC) aims to provide healthy, sustainable, affordable meals without proof of need or referral. Open once a week during lunch it offers hot meals, primarily using surplus foods. Clients can pay as much or little as they wish and can pay a meal forward. A mixed methods evaluation of KRC was carried out which aimed to identify who KRC clients were and their reasons for attending, in addition to its social and nutritional impact. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered using bespoke questionnaires and optional interviews. In all, 32 individuals completed questionnaires, the majority in-person at KRC (91%), the remainder online. Four client telephone interviews were also held. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was carried out to identify recurring themes, while descriptive statistics were generated for quantitative data. KRC clients were largely vulnerable. The majority were at least middle-aged (28.1% aged ≥60; 25.0% aged 50-59 years) and out of full-time employment (62.5% worked <1 day a week while 9.3% worked part-time). Self-reported disability was common (43.8% overall; 50.0% of all men). Several lived in supported housing (e.g. YMCA, accommodation for women victims of domestic violence). One reported homelessness due to their immigration status. High levels of FI were evident: over half (54.8%) used other, often multiple, food support services, including food banks, community fridges and church lunches. The majority made use of the KRC primarily in response to FI, indicating as their main reason for visiting support with food cost and/or the cost of living (46.9%). For this group using the service was tightly linked with their ability to access a healthy hot meal and to save money; 85.7% agreed or strongly agreed with this. Many added the social aspect of the KRC experience as a second main reason for visiting (50.0% of those who gave multiple reason). Additionally, support the local community and enjoy delicious food were highlighted. Ninety-six % of participants agreed or strongly agreed that coming to the KRC had improved their wellbeing, while 65.6% agreed or strongly agreed that it had made them feel more valued, like they ‘belonged’ to the community. While concern about food waste was not their primary reason for coming, 90.6% of participants thought that eating surplus food offered at KRC benefitted the environment. For this vulnerable group, local community café provision offered a safe space with affordable healthy food. This, plus feeling welcomed and included, benefitted their feelings of wellbeing and belonging.

Introduction Goal‐oriented practices involve practitioners working collaboratively with clients to identify, develop and focus on objectives for the therapeutic work. It has been suggested that the key mechanism underpinning goal‐oriented practices with young people is the development of epistemic trust via the foundation of open communication, along with shared decision‐making: including young people in decisions about their care. However, goal‐oriented work in practice is variable in scope and content, with no research consensus on what it entails, the mechanisms of change and reported outcomes. Method This research aims to map the extent, range and nature of the evidence‐base for goal‐oriented practices, including gaps, through a synthesis of the available empirical evidence from the past 20 years. A scoping review of 9783 studies published from 2003 onwards was conducted. Results In total, 116 studies were identified for inclusion in the review, focusing on goal‐oriented practices specifically related to the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 0–18 (including caregivers as relevant). Alongside presentation of the key elements of the included studies, three themes were developed relating to the features of mental health and wellbeing goal‐oriented practice in the contexts of the studies: Conceptual and Empirical Constructs of Goal‐Oriented Practices, Quality and Making ‘Good’ Goals, and The Socio‐Cultural Contexts of Goal‐Oriented Practice. Conclusion Several areas for future research are identified that will build on this evidence, and further understanding in this area. Work towards the development of best practice principles will move practice towards transparency in the understanding and delivery of goal‐oriented practices.

This article presents an intersectional, reflexive analysis of the research process, methods and ethical considerations involved in a community-based participatory study aimed at increasing and improving the participation of young and minoritised fathers, both in support settings and in research. Conducted by a peer research team comprising beneficiaries and a young male employee of a specialist support charity for young fathers, the substantive aim of Diverse Dads was to explore and address the limited diversity and inclusion of minoritised young fathers in contexts of family and multi-agency service provision. This aim prompted critical attention to questions of inclusion and empowerment for young fathers throughout the research process, including those from ethnic minority communities, as overlooked and under-represented populations in service contexts and research. Synthesising intersectionality and participation theories, we employ an ‘intersectional participatory framework’, to outline and interrogate four ‘critical moments’, and associated methodological strategies, that researchers might encounter in co-produced research with participants who are marginalised and/or minoritised. These are: (1) creating spaces to facilitate and enhance research participation, (2) fostering community empowerment through participation, (3) foregrounding minoritised voices and (4) (en)countering essentialism. Via these themes, we consider the possibilities for enhancing the inclusion and participation of marginalised and minoritised participants and explore the challenges and tradeoffs in research and practice contexts where engagement with such populations has proven challenging to overcome.