Full Text PDF of The JBBA, 11th Issue, May 2023

Full Text PDF of The JBBA, 11th Issue, May 202

Biodegradability standards for carrier bags and plastic films in aquatic environments: a critical review

Plastic litter is encountered in aquatic ecosystems across the globe, including polar environments and the deep sea. To mitigate the adverse societal and ecological impacts of this waste, there has been debate on whether ‘biodegradable’ materials should be granted exemptions from plastic bag bans and levies. However, great care must be exercised when attempting to define this term, due to the broad and complex range of physical and chemical conditions encountered within natural ecosystems. Here, we review existing international industry standards and regional test methods for evaluating the biodegradability of plastics within aquatic environments (wastewater, unmanaged freshwater and marine habitats). We argue that current standards and test methods are insufficient in their ability to realistically predict the biodegradability of carrier bags in these environments, due to several shortcomings in experimental procedures and a paucity of information in the scientific literature. Moreover, existing biodegradability standards and test methods for aquatic environments do not involve toxicity testing or account for the potentially adverse ecological impacts of carrier bags, plastic additives, polymer degradation products or small (microscopic) plastic particles that can arise via fragmentation. Successfully addressing these knowledge gaps is a key requirement for developing new biodegradability standard(s) for lightweight carrier bags

A brief history of the British Neuroscience Association

As the British Neuroscience Association commemorates 50 years of existence in 2018, this article recalls its founding as a discussion group, its establishment as the Brain Research Association, its transition to a professional society encompassing all aspects of neuroscience research, both clinical and non-clinical, and its re-branding as the British Neuroscience Association in the late 1990s. Neuroscience as a branch of life science has expanded hugely in the last 25 years and the British Neuroscience Association has adapted, frequently working with partner societies, to serve as an interdisciplinary hub for professionals working in this exciting and crucial field. The authors have attempted to highlight some key events in the Association’s history and acknowledge the contributions made by many people over half a century

Gender, identity, mobility: an introduction to the annual conference edition of the British Association for South Asian Studies

Gender, identity, mobility: an introduction to the annual conference edition of the British Association for South Asian Studie

Arts across the curriculum: enhancing pupil learning, the pupil perspective

Paper presented to the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference, held at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

Preoperative Kidney Function linked to mortality and readmission outcomes at Day 90 and 30 in Older Emergency Surgical Patients

Grants were received from British Geriatric Society and The Renal Association to support Louis EvansPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Improving the nutritional intake of hospital patients: how far have we come? A re-audit.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition affects up to 33.6% of hospitalised patients, with consequences that are detrimental for both patients and healthcare providers. In 2015, an audit demonstrated inadequate nutritional provision and consumption by hospitalised patients, comprising a major risk factor for malnutrition. This re-audit evaluates whether patients are meeting recommended energy and protein standards and estimated individual requirements, subsequent to food service improvements since 2015. METHODS: Patients (n = 111) were included from a South West hospital, and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool scores (MUST) categorised patients as 'nutritionally well' (MUST 0) or 'nutritionally vulnerable' (MUST ≥ 1). Individual energy and protein requirements were estimated using weight-based equations. Nutritional intakes were assessed via 24-h dietary recall and compared against the British Dietetic Association's Nutrition and Hydration Digest standards, as well as estimated individual requirements. RESULTS: In total, the Digest standards for energy and protein were met by 35% and 63% of patients respectively, which is an increase of 19% and 36% since 2015. 'Nutritionally well' patients were more likely to meet nutrient standards for protein (62%) than estimated individual requirements (30%) (P ≤ 0.001). 'Nutritionally vulnerable' patients were more likely to meet estimated individual requirements for energy (60%) than the Digest standards (30%) (P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of patients meeting the Digest standards has increased considerably following numerous food service changes. Nutritional training for housekeepers, energy/protein-dense snacks and drinks, and fortified dietary items may further increase nutritional intakes. Additionally, as a result of discrepancies between the Digest standards and individual estimated requirements, more research is required to identify the most appropriate auditing standards that reflect best practice

Woody Guthrie, American Radical

Pamphlet produced by the British Association for American Studies, including a case study on Will Kaufman's "Woody Guthrie, American Radical@ (p. 6)

Student retention in further education : a problem of quality or of student finance?

"This paper is an updated version of one presented to the British Educational Research Association Annual Conference in September 1999" -- front cover