Digital Commons Network^™

How Do Personality Traits Influence The Experience Of Positive Emotions?, Elenie Shotton

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Neuroticism is a personality trait known to be associated with negative emotions (Tellegan, 1985), but little is known about how it affects the experience of positive emotions, and more specifically, hope. Positive emotions can have long lasting effects on well-being, by broadening thought-action repertoires and undoing lingering negative emotions (Frederickson, 1998). Cognitive strategies strongly influence state positive emotions in individuals low in neuroticism, but have no effect on those with high neuroticism (Ng & Diener, 2009). We expected individuals high in neuroticism would experience a smaller increase in state hope following hope emotion induction. Participants completed an online survey involving …

The Effect Of Onshore Wind On Wave Overtopping Of A Vertical Sea Wall, Sarah Durbridge

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Strong winds can produce overtopping rates that are considerably higher than predicted by the EurOtop formulae, which do not make provision for wind. However, no detailed industry guidance exists about the quantification of those wind effects. Physical modelling tests (scale 1:21) investigated how the mean rate of overtopping changed with wave frequency under the influence of various wind speeds. The nature and quantity of overtopping was found to be strongly related to the frequency of the incident wave. The wind had a significant effect on the mean overtopping rate, with the most pronounced effect occurring when the overtopping was at …

An Isotropic Neo-Hookean Finite Element Model Of Healthy Elastic Arterial Walls Within Commercial Software, Reece Ambrose

The Plymouth Student Scientist

A non-linear isotropic finite element model of an elastic arterial wall is developed within the ANSYS commercial software package. While progressively increasing complexity of the model, it is validated with analytical theory. Geometric nonlinearity is investigated and an iterative convergence method for the calculation of a solution-dependent axial force, which increases with artery deformation, is presented. Neo-Hookean hyperelastic material models are fitted to existing uniaxial, biaxial, and shear experimental data from literature for both rubber and polyurethane elastomer to introduce material nonlinearity into the arterial wall model. A mesh independence study was performed to determine a suitable mesh and the …

Scale Model Behaviour And Float Geometry Influence On An Oscillating Water Column System, Daniel Cresswell

The Plymouth Student Scientist

A numerical model based on a 1:60 scale Lazy-S Mooring Line has been developed using the dynamic analysis software OrcaFlex, to determine the software’s capabilities when analysing discretized scale models, and to quantify the effect that varying float surface geometry has on mooring line system damping. Static analysis was performed, followed by dynamic analysis, based on experimental data from physical testing in the University of Plymouth 35m Sediment Flume tank, against two distinct float shapes with equivalent hydrostatic properties but aspect ratio variance perpendicular to fluid flow. The impact of scale modelling on static line forces, effective tension and driving …

How Are Defendants Of High-Profile Court Cases Framed In The Media? A Qualitative Analysis Of News Media Coverage Of Caroline Flack's Arrest, Lucy Matthews

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This present study aims to investigate whether news media coverage on Caroline Flack’s arrest, in December 2019, showed characteristics of ‘Trial by Media’ (TBM) through identification of one-sided, unbalanced or predominantly negative, sensationalised or speculative news coverage. Caroline Flack’s case has importance due to her ‘media trial’ potentially contributing to her mental health issues, and subsequent suicide two months after her arrest. This study also aims to assess how much this media coverage could have contributed to this. Forty news media articles were analysed from the 18-day period, starting from her arrest, using Media Framing Analysis (MFA; Giles & Shaw, …

Impact Of Geographical Variability On The Bleaching Stresses In The Atlantic, Indian And South Pacific Ocean, Niamh Bowdler

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This dissertation examines the relationship between the geographical location and the degree of coral bleaching. Corals within different ocean regions are subjected to fluctuations in temperature causing variations in thermal thresholds which affects how the reef fauna adapts to the changing environment. Quadrats were obtained from XL Catlin Global Reef Record and analysed to determine the state of the coral at three locations: East Bermuda (Atlantic Ocean), Egmont (Indian Ocean) and Agincourt (South Pacific Ocean). The mean monthly and weekly sea surface temperature (SST) data was extracted from Giovanni between 2002-2020 for all three reefs. ANOVA: single factor tests (analysis …

Variability In Epifaunal Assemblages Between Sargassum Muticum And Zostera Marina: A Functional Group Approach, Jenny Hickman

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Marine macrophytes are globally important to coastal ecosystems, providing refugia, nutrients and important ecological processes. The structure and composition of macrophytes have a bottom-up effect on the epifauna they support. Due to their wide-reaching effects, invasive algae are considered one of the greatest threats facing marine ecosystems. Sargassum muticum is a Japanese algae increasing its non-native range in coastal habitats globally. A highly dispersive algae, able to colonise soft substratum, it is considered a threat to seagrass beds across the North East Atlantic. In Salcombe Estuary, Devon, beds of Zostera marina have seen increasing levels of invasion by S. muticum. …

Does Cannabidiol (Cbd) Oil Convert To Psychotropic Cannabinoids Including Tetrahydrocannabinol?, Danielle Young

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid that belongs to the Cannabis Sativa L plant. This naturally occurring cannabinoid has gained huge interest in recent years because of the potential therapeutic and pharmacological effects it has upon ingestion and inhalation. Cannabidiol has not only been regarded as a medicinal product but is widely sold over the counter (OTC) in the form of concentrated oils, food supplements, cosmetics, and electronic cigarettes. Regulation of OTC products has proven difficult because of the narcotic nature of the cannabis plant and it has been advised that CBD might be degraded into psychotropic cannabinoids, namely tetrahydrocannabinol …

A Comparison Of The Risk Of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Development Between Individuals With Different Abo Blood Group Phenotypes: A Meta-Analysis, Danielle Martin

The Plymouth Student Scientist

A comparison of the risk of pancreatic adenocarcinoma development between individuals with different ABO blood group phenotypes: A meta-analysis

What Effect Do Government Policies Have On The Transmission Of Covid-19?, Emily Prestige

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This investigation aimed to determine the effect of government policies on the transmission of COVID-19 during the period 30/01/2020 – 03/01/2021. This investigation used qualitative data from policy legislation and journals and quantitative data from official government pandemic figures. It also used central factors of successful government approaches to assess the efficacy of the UK Government strategy. The measure used to monitor transmission rates is the instantaneous reproduction number Rt. I have used summary statistics, data visualisation, and time series representations to conduct exploratory data analyses. I also investigated the change in testing capacity and positivity rate over time to …

Exploring The Minimum Number Of Trials Needed To Accurately Detect Concealed Information Using Eeg, Rhian Graham

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Deception can have serious consequences, therefore detection methods such as the Electroencephalogram (EEG) are vital. However, they can be perceived as time-consuming thus causing limited usage. The purpose of this study was to discover the minimum number of trials needed to accurately detect deception. It was hypothesised that accuracy would increase with number of trials (due to reduced effects of noise) but would then fall (due to subject’s fatigue). Due to the Coronavirus, this study was restricted to 9 participants within our ‘Lab Bubble’ of third-year Psychology students at the University of Plymouth. A Concealed Information Test (CIT) was conducted, …

Key Components Of Post-Diagnostic Support For People With Dementia And Their Carers: A Qualitative Study, Claire Bamford, Alison Wheatley, Greta Brunskill, Laura Booi, Louise Allan, Sube Banerjee, Karen Harrison Dening, Jill Manthorpe, Louise Robinson

More Faculty of Health Research

Background There has been a shift in focus of international dementia policies from improving diagnostic rates to enhancing the post-diagnostic support provided to people with dementia and their carers. There is, however, little agreement over what constitutes good post-diagnostic support. This study aimed to identify the components of post-diagnostic dementia support. Methods We adopted a qualitative design using interviews, focus groups and observation to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders on the content of post-diagnostic dementia support. Purposive sampling was used to identify sites in England and Wales recognised as delivering good practice. Participants included 17 people with dementia, 31 …

A Projection Method For The Estimation Of Error Covariance Matrices For Variational Data Assimilation In Ocean Modelling, Georgy I. Shapiro, Jose M. Gonzalez-Ondina, Lewis Sampson

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Smart Speakers In Care Home Residents: Implementation Study, Katie J. Edwards, Ray B. Jones, Deborah Shenton, Toni Page, Inocencio Maramba, Alison Warren, Fiona Fraser, Tanja Križaj, Tristan Coombe, Hazel Cowls, Arunangsu Chatterjee

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background:

The use of smart speakers to improve well-being had been trialed in social care by others; however, we were not aware of their implementation in most care homes across a region in the Southwest of the United Kingdom. For the widespread adoption of new technology, it must be locally demonstrable and become normalized.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to install smart speakers in care homes in a rural and coastal region and to explore if and how the devices were being used, the barriers to their implementation, and their potential benefits.

Methods:

Email, workshops, drop-in sessions, phone, …

Key Components Of Post-Diagnostic Support For People With Dementia And Their Carers: A Qualitative Study, C Bamford, A Wheatley, G Brunskill, L Booi, Et Al

Peninsula Medical School

Background There has been a shift in focus of international dementia policies from improving diagnostic rates to enhancing the post-diagnostic support provided to people with dementia and their carers. There is, however, little agreement over what constitutes good post-diagnostic support. This study aimed to identify the components of post-diagnostic dementia support. Methods We adopted a qualitative design using interviews, focus groups and observation to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders on the content of post-diagnostic dementia support. Purposive sampling was used to identify sites in England and Wales recognised as delivering good practice. Participants included 17 people with dementia, 31 …

Deep And Transfer Learning Approaches For Pedestrian Identification And Classification In Autonomous Vehicles, Alex Mounsey, Asiya Khan, Sanjay Sharma

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Pedestrian detection is at the core of autonomous road vehicle navigation systems as they allow a vehicle to understand where potential hazards lie in the surrounding area and enable it to act in such a way that avoids traffic-accidents, which may result in individuals being harmed. In this work, a review of the convolutional neural networks (CNN) to tackle pedestrian detection is presented. We further present models based on CNN and transfer learning. The CNN model with the VGG-16 architecture is further optimised using the transfer learning approach. This paper demonstrates that the use of image augmentation on training data …

Layered Architecture For Internet Of Things-Based Healthcare System: A Systematic Literature Review, Somayeh Nasiri, Farahnaz Sadoughi, Afsaneh Dehnad, Mohammad Hesam Tadayon, Hossein Ahmadi

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Internet of Things (IoT), known as a new paradigm, has shown to have a significant role in healthcare domains including remote vital sign monitoring systems, physical activity tracking, early disease diagnosis, and prevention of disease risks. Therefore, designing an integrated healthcare system based on Internet of Things is highly dependent on designing a layered architecture pattern. However, there are no comprehensive studies on Internet of Things layered architecture in the healthcare industry. The purpose of this study was to identify and scrutinize different types of layered architecture of Internet of Things in healthcare in terms of functions, and technologies. We …

Oral Care Experiences Of Palliative Care Patients, Their Relatives/Carers And Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Systematic Review, Delgado M Bernardes, Anastasios Plessas, Lorna Burns, Helen Neilens, Sarah Griffiths, Jos Latour

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

Climate Mitigation Through Biological Conservation: Extensive And Valuable Blue Carbon Natural Capital In Tristan Da Cunha’S Giant Marine Protected Zone, David K.A. Barnes, James B. Bell, Amelia E. Bridges, Louise Ireland, Kerry L. Howell, Stephanie M. Martin, Chester J. Sands, Soto A Mora, Terri Souster, Gareth Flint, Simon A. Morley

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Carbon-rich habitats can provide powerful climate mitigation if meaningful protection is put in place. We attempted to quantify this around the Tristan da Cunha archipelago Marine Protected Area. Its shallows (<1000 m depth) are varied and productive. The 5.4 km2 of kelp stores ~60 tonnes of carbon (tC) and may export ~240 tC into surrounding depths. In deep-waters we analysed seabed data collected from three research cruises, including seabed mapping, camera imagery, seabed oceanography and benthic samples from mini-Agassiz trawl. Rich biological assemblages on seamounts significantly differed to the islands and carbon storage had complex drivers. We estimate ~2.3 million tC are stored in benthic biodiversity of waters <1000 m, which includes >0.22 million tC that can be sequestered (the proportion of the carbon captured that is expected to become buried in sediment or locked away in skeletal tissue for at least 100 years). Much of this carbon is captured by cold-water coral reefs as a mixture of inorganic (largely calcium carbonate) and organic compounds. As part of its 2020 Marine Protection Strategy, these deep-water reef systems are now protected by …

Beach Hazards: Riu Funana, Cape Verde, C Stokes, G Masselink, T Scott, L Brodie

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Large West Antarctic Ice Sheet Explains Early Neogene Sea-Level Amplitude, J. W. Marschalek, L. Zurli, F. Talarico, De Flierdt T Van, P. Vermeesch, A. Carter, F Beny, V. Bout-Roumazeilles, F. Sangiorgi, S. R. Hemming, L. F. Pérez, F. Colleoni, J. G. Prebble, Peer Te Van, M. Perotti, A. E. Shevenell, I Browne, Dk Kulhanek, R. Levy, D Harwood, N. B. Sullivan, S. R. Meyers, E. M. Griffith, C. D. Hillenbrand, E. Gasson, M. J. Siegert, B Keisling, K. J. Licht, G. Kuhn, Jp Dodd, C. Boshuis, Santis L De, Rm Mckay, Jeanine Ash, F Beny, Im Browne, Giuseppe Cortese, Santis L De, Jp Dodd, Oliver M. Esper, Jenny A. Gales, Dm Harwood, Saki Ishino, Ba Keisling, S Kim, S Kim, Dk Kulhanek, Jan Sverre Laberg, R. Mark Leckie, Rm Mckay, J Müller, Mo Patterson, Bw Romans, Oe Romero, F. Sangiorgi, O Seki, Ae Shevenell, Sm Singh, De Sousa Im Cordeiro, St Sugisaki, T Van De Flierdt, Peer Te Van, W Xiao, Z Xiong

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Early to Middle Miocene sea-level oscillations of approximately 40–60 m estimated from far-field records are interpreted to reflect the loss of virtually all East Antarctic ice during peak warmth2. This contrasts with ice-sheet model experiments suggesting most terrestrial ice in East Antarctica was retained even during the warmest intervals of the Middle Miocene. Data and model outputs can be reconciled if a large West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) existed and expanded across most of the outer continental shelf during the Early Miocene, accounting for maximum ice-sheet volumes. Here we provide the earliest geological evidence proving large WAIS expansions occurred during …

Dating Martian Mafic Crust; Microstructurally Constrained Baddeleyite Geochronology Of Enriched Shergottites Northwest Africa (Nwa) 7257, Nwa 8679 And Zagami, Lg Staddon, Jr Darling, Wh Schwarz, Nr Stephen, Et Al

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Baddeleyite (monoclinic; m-ZrO2) is a widespread accessory phase within shergottites. However, the effects of shock loading on baddeleyite U-Pb isotopic systematics, and therefore its reliability as a geochronometer within highly shocked lithologies, are less well constrained. To investigate the effects of shock metamorphism on baddeleyite U-Pb chronology, we have conducted high-resolution microstructural analysis and in-situ U-Pb isotopic measurements for baddeleyite within enriched basaltic shergottites Northwest Africa (NWA) 7257, NWA 8679 and Zagami. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses of baddeleyite reveal significant microstructural heterogeneity within individual thin sections, recording widespread partial to complete reversion from high-pressure (≥3.3 GPa) orthorhombic zirconia polymorphs. …

The G7 Summit 2021: Time For Our World Leaders To Step Up To The Challenge Of Anti-Microbial Resistance, Lt Joshi

Peninsula Dental School

In June 2021, I wrote a strongly worded opinion piece published in the New Statesman about the G7 Summit and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [1]. The piece highlighted that AMR should be addressed in the G7 Summit agenda and that our world leaders must recognize that research and investment into feasible solutions are urgently needed. This personal view adds to that original article. The G7 Summit took place in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, UK on the 11–13 June 2021 and the UK took Presidency of the G7 group of nations [2]. The G7 comprises seven member countries, namely the UK, the USA, …

Soil Erosion And Sediment Transport In Tanzania: Part I – Sediment Source Tracing In Three Neighbouring River Catchments, Maarten Wynants, Linus Munishi, Kelvin Mtei, Samuel Bodé, Aloyce Patrick, Alex Taylor, David Gilvear, Patrick Ndakidemi, William H. Blake, Pascal Boeckx

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

A Global Atlas Of Artificial Light At Night Under The Sea, T. J. Smyth, A. E. Wright, D. Mckee, S. Tidau, R. Tamir, Z. Dubinsky, D. Iluz, T. W. Davies

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN) on marine ecosystems have emerged as a focus for ecological light pollution research in recent years, yet the global prevalence of ALAN in underwater marine ecosystems is unknown. We have derived a global atlas of ALAN throughout the marine water column that will accelerate our understanding of its sources and environmental impacts. At a depth of 1 m, 1.9 million km2 of the world’s coastal seas are exposed to biologically important ALAN, which equates to around 3.1% of the global exclusive economic zones. This area decreases to 1.6 million km2 (2.7%) at …

Coping With Fibromyalgia During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Adjustment And Wellbeing, Alison M. Bacon, Leah White, Alyson Norman

School of Psychology

ObjectiveFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition with symptoms known to be exacerbated by stress. Individuals with FMS may be experiencing particular distress under Covid-19 pandemic-related lifestyle restrictions. The present study examined wellbeing, perceived symptom change and coping in individuals with and without FMS during pandemic-related social lockdown in the UK.DesignParticipants with a diagnosis of FMS (N = 390) and a general public sample with no FMS (N = 151) completed questionnaires at three time points.Main Outcome MeasuresBBC Wellbeing Scale, Cognitive-Emotional Regulation Questionnaire measure of coping, perception of extent to which symptoms have worsened or improved over time.ResultsContrary to expectations, …

Understanding Coralline Algal Responses To Ocean Acidification: Meta‐Analysis And Synthesis, Ce Cornwall, Ben P. Harvey, Steeve Comeau, Dl Cornwall, Jason Hall‐Spencer, Viviana Peña, Shigeki Wada, Lucia Porzio

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Ocean acidification (OA) is a major threat to the persistence of biogenic reefs throughout the world's ocean. Coralline algae are comprised of high magnesium calcite and have long been considered one of the most susceptible taxa to the negative impacts of OA. We summarize these impacts and explore the causes of variability in coralline algal responses using a review/qualitative assessment of all relevant literature, meta-analysis, quantitative assessment of critical responses, and a discussion of physiological mechanisms and directions for future research. We find that most coralline algae experienced reduced abundance, calcification rates, recruitment rates, and declines in pH within the …

A Report From The Nihr Uk Working Group On Remote Trial Delivery For The Covid-19 Pandemic And Beyond, Jane A.H. Masoli, Kim Down, Gary Nestor, Sharon Hudson, John T. O’Brien, James D. Williamson, Carolyn A. Young, Camille Carroll

Peninsula Medical School

Abstract Background Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of clinical trial activity took place face to face within clinical or research units. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant shift towards trial delivery without in-person face-to-face contact or “Remote Trial Delivery”. The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) assembled a Remote Trial Delivery Working Group to consider challenges and enablers to this major change in clinical trial delivery and to provide a toolkit for researchers to support the transition to remote delivery. Methods The NIHR Remote Trial Delivery Working Group evaluated five key domains of the trial delivery pathway: …

Covid-19 Presents An Opportunity For Dental Teams To Become Ready For Person-Centred Care, Ian Mills, Koula Asimakopoulou, Patricia Neville, Sasha Scambler

Peninsula Dental School

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Student Views On Pre-Registration Training In Communication Skills For Behaviour Change., Kirsten Whitehead, Tracey Parkin

School of Health Professions

No abstract provided.