Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Exposure Route And Surface Coating On The Bioaccumulation Of Cdte Quantum Dots In Fish. Considerations For Testing Nanomaterials Following Oecd Test Guideline No. 305, Judit Kalman, Rocío Fernández-Saavedra, Carla Díaz-Tielas, Mona Connolly, Ana I. Cardona-García, Nathaniel Clark, Richard D. Handy, Eric A.J. Bleeker, Isabel Rucandio, José María Navas, María Luisa Fernández-Cruz

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

To identify nanomaterials of potential environmental concern and to support risk assessment for regulatory purposes bioaccumulation testing is required. However, further guidance is needed when applying the fish bioaccumulation OECD test guideline (TG) No. 305 to nanomaterials. Also questions remain surrounding the most appropriate exposure route and if subtle modifications to these materials (e.g. different coatings) will influence bioaccumulation potential. Therefore in this study OECD TG 305 was applied to assess the bioaccumulation potential of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with additional considerations for testing nanomaterials. CdTe QDs were selected for our studies because of their increasing use, possible release to …

40 Priority Questions To Advance Understanding Of The Risks And Opportunities Of Uk Marine Heatwaves, Zoe Jacobs, Kathryn E. Smith, Jules B. Kajtar, Dan A. Smale, Pippa J. Moore, Fabrice Stephenson, Michael T. Burrows, Caroline Rowland, Richard Renshaw, Sophy Oliver, Martyn Jakins-Pollard, Freya Ivy Palmer, Alice Kloker, Craig Baker-Austin, Bryony Townhill, Sian Rees, Sarah Coulthard, Ekaterina Popova

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are periods of anomalously warm sea temperatures that are becoming increasingly recognised as ocean stressors. Globally, MHWs have impacted marine ecosystems, with significant socioeconomic implications for coastal communities and industries. The unprecedented MHW that occurred in the waters surrounding the UK and Ireland in summer 2023 highlighted a crucial gap in our understanding of the region-specific characteristics of MHWs and their impacts on marine ecosystems, the services they underpin, the blue economy and society. Using diverse expert opinion, we propose 40 priority questions for interdisciplinary research in the UK that must urgently be addressed to prepare for …

A Less Than Ideal Journey: The Introduction Of Commercial Smart Card Ticketing For Local Bus Services In England, Jon Shaw, Iain Docherty, Andrew Seedhouse, Alison Rumbles

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Purpose: In the broader context of the pursuit of a more sustainable transport policy in the United Kingdom, the paper explores issues that emerged during the instigation, development and implementation of national smart ticketing policy for England.Design/methodology/approach: The primary empirical information in this paper was derived from 51 semi-structured interviews with 61 key stakeholders in the process of developing and implementing smart ticketing policy. Participants were identified through a purposive sampling approach designed to engage respondents because of the position they occupy and the quality of information they can provide.Findings: Difficulties emerged in the partnership approach to policy delivery made …

The Evolution Of Southern Ocean Net Primary Production In A Changing Climate: Challenges And Opportunities, Alessandro Tagliabue, Thomas Ryan-Keogh, Alex Baker, Thomas S. Bibby, Chris Follett, Maeve C. Lohan, Alberto Naveira-Garabato, Daniel J. Mayor, Angela Milne, C. Mark Moore, Simon Ussher

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Net primary production in the Southern Ocean plays a critical role in governing ecosystem production, the biological carbon pump, and global biogeochemical cycles. Recent work has advanced our understanding of novel factors regulating Southern Ocean net primary production and the regional physiological adaptations employed by Southern Ocean phytoplankton in terms of their photosynthetic strategies and resource acquisition. Here we assess trends in Southern Ocean net primary production from different remote sensing algorithms and bgc-Argo floats to compare them to the latest Earth System Models used to forecast future changes under three different future climate scenarios. Overall, remote sensing and bgc-Argo …

Opinions Of The Uk General Public And Stroke Survivors In Using Artificial Intelligence And ‘Opt-Out’ Models Of Consent In Medical Research: A Qualitative Study, William Heseltine-Carp, Mark Thurston, Michael Allen, Daniel Browning, Megan Courtman, Aishwarya Kasabe, Emmanuel Ifeachor, Stephen Mullin

Peninsula Medical School

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare often requires large, confidential clinical datasets. However, a recent UK government survey revealed that 20–40% of the public remain sceptical of its use in health research due to concerns about data security, patient–practitioner communication and commercialisation of data. A greater understanding of public attitudes is therefore needed, particularly in the context of stroke research.In this article, we describe the patient and public involvement work undertaken for the AI-Based-Stroke-Risk-fActor-Classification-and-Treatment (ABSTRACT) project, which aims to train AI models to predict future stroke risk from the electronic health records of 1 18 736 patients.Aims We aimed to …

Knowledge Production As Identity Expression: A Third-Space Perspective On Sustainable Careers, Alicja Syska

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This conceptual paper advances our understanding of sustainable careers by focusing on the knowledge creation activities of third-space practitioners in higher education. Specifically, we apply and extend the Process Model of Sustainable Careers to examine how different forms of knowledge production in three different institutional and national contexts – writing for publication, practice-based expertise, and curriculum development – contribute to career sustainability at the intersection of academic and professional/administrative roles and domains. The critical element of this extension is ‘identity expression’ in the form of knowledge production, which acts as an integrating mechanism that flows through and connects the original …

Multiple Oceanic Sources Of Alkylamines In Southern Ocean Atmospheres, Manuel Dall´Osto, Mark F. Fitzsimons, James Brean, Preston Chebai Akenga, A. Jones, Tom Lachlan-Cope, Ana Sotomayor, Elisa Berdalet, Dolors Vaque, Roy M. Harrison, Karam Mansour, Matteo Rinaldi, Stefano Decesari, David Beddows, Marco Paglione

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Measurements of pre-industrial conditions are of paramount importance for understanding historical climate change. The Southern Ocean and Antarctic continent are some of the least polluted environments on planet Earth. Alkylamines can rapidly partition into aerosols, increasing their mass, as well as form new particles altogether. We demonstrate the importance of pelagic “open ocean” (OO) and sympagic “sea ice” (SI) regions in supplying distinct organic nitrogen aerosol components. In the aerosol phase, dimethylamine (DMA) and trimethylamine (TMA) are both secondary, though DMA likely originates mainly from pelagic regions, while TMA is associated mainly with sympagic regions. Parallel measurements in ice and …

The Meaning Of Travel: An Exploration Within The ‘Baby-Boomer’ Generation, Regan Hicks, Alison Warren

School of Health Professions

This qualitative research explored the underresearched area of subjective meaning(s) of travel for U.K. baby-boomers, from an occupational perspective. Using a descriptive phenomenology, a convenience sample of eight baby-boomers was recruited using social media. Participants took part in semistructured interviews, and narratives were analysed using thematic analysis. Four themes were generated: (a) travel is important to me, (b) travel changes through time, (c) travel facilitators and barriers and (d) travel as a shared experience. Participants perceived travel as a meaningful and health-promoting occupation that represented freedom, choice, independence, connection and achievement. Greater comfort was sought with age while financial constraints …

Willing To Drive Green? Exploring Behavioral And Policy Influences On Electric Vehicle Ownership, Rajat Subhra Chatterjee, Irfan Hameed, Yamna Khan, Bibi Zainab, Kamran Khan

Plymouth Business School

PurposeThis study aims to empirically investigate the factors influencing Malaysian consumers’ purchase intentions (PI) for electric vehicles (EVs). The present study extends and modifies the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with additional variables [environmental concern (EC) and perceived incentive policy (PIP)] to examine the effect on consumers’ PI regarding EVs.Design/methodology/approachThe study used purposive sampling technique, and the target population consisted of Malaysian EV owners. A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed, yielding 413 responses. A final 390 responses were retained for analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) has been used to analyze data using SmartPLS 4.0. In addition, …

Grayscale Image Encryption Using Generalized Lucas Matrices And Hillcipher, Putri Zalia Megat Johar, Faridah Yunos, Ji-Jian Chin, Muhammad Asyraf Asbullah

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Secure and effective methods of image encryption are increasingly important in protecting sensitivedigital content from being attacked by today's increasingly knowledgeable and aggressive adversaries.This is no exception to attacks carried out on the secret content generated by grayscale images.Stemming from this problem, this research introduces a new approach to encrypt grayscale images usinga combination of the Generalized Lucas Matrix and Hill Cipher (GLMHC) with a self-invertibleencryption key. This type of encryption key eliminates the need to find the inversion key during thedecryption process and reduces the computational burden. Encrypted image quality is measured usingentropy, Mean Two-Dimensional Error (MSE), Signal to …

There’S No Magic Pill: A Multimethods Qualitative Study Exploring Routine Fatigue Care In People With Multiple Sclerosis, Emma O’Connor, Sophie Fawson, Tom Sanders, Tracy Finch, Nicole Dodsworth, Harriet Waine, Olivia Tamburro, Jennifer A. Freeman, Pam Bostock, Wendy Hendrie, Rona Moss-Morris

School of Health Professions

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Evidence suggests that behavioral treatments, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy and some exercise therapies, are effective in reducing MS fatigue. However, few people are offered these treatments in routine care, and little is known about the reasons for this research-to-practice gap. The aim of this study was to explore how routine care is currently delivered for MS fatigue. METHODS: Health care professionals (n = 28) took part in 6 focus groups and 6 one-to-one interviews exploring experiences with assessing, managing, and treating fatigue. How health care professionals …

Establishing An Adhd Post-Diagnostic Support Group: A Quality Improvement Report, Katie Alexandra Jones

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: NATIONAL NURSING ASSOCIATE SPECIAL EDITION

Establishing An Adhd Post-Diagnostic Support Group: A Quality Improvement Report, Katie Alexandra Jones

South West Clinical School Journal

#400WORDS: NATIONAL NURSING ASSOCIATE SPECIAL EDITION

Exploring The Clinical Utility Of The Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit For Use In Occupational Therapy Practice In Adult Social Care: A Qualitative Study, Rachel Cox, Sarah Reynolds

School of Health Professions

AbstractBackground/Aims Promoting the wellbeing of service users is a core focus in occupational therapy and adult social care. Despite a professional, policy and legal mandate to provide evidence of the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions in adult social care, few local authority teams in England use standardised outcome measures to assess the impact of interventions on wellbeing. One local authority’s occupational therapy service in England sought to address this by introducing the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit. This study explored the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit’s clinical utility (usefulness) in this setting. As the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit has …

Toward A Roadmap For Addressing Today's Health Dilemma-The 101-Statement Consensus Report, Katharina C. Wirnitzer, Mohamad Motevalli, Derrick R. Tanous, Clemens Drenowatz, Maximilian Moser, Holger Cramer, Thomas Rosemann, Karl-Heinz Wagner, Andreas Michalsen, Beat Knechtle, Zlatko Fras, Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, Adilson Marques, Natasa Fidler Mis, Fatima C. Stanford, Christian Schubert, Nandu Goswami, Claus Leitzmann, Per Morten Fredriksen, Gerhard Ruedl, Doris Wilflingseder, Rodrigo A. Lima, Christian Kessler, Michael Jeitler, Naim A. Khan, Hassan Joulaei, Maryam Fatemi, Andrew Knight, Karl W. Kratky, Kara K. Palmer

School of Health Professions

Importance: In recent decades there has been an expansion in the quantity and quality of scientific findings and guidelines on different health topics to promote individual and public health status. Reports also indicate that there has been a simultaneous increase in the financial burden of disease, including trillions spent on healthcare resources by governments worldwide (predominantly in developing countries) to address health concerns. At the same time, personal health behavior is well-known as efficient and cost-free, holding four times the potential to prevent early death compared to health care. Despite this knowledge, data show that the increasing prevalence of unhealthy …

Teaching Dental Public Health Using A Socially Accountable Approach, Anastasios Plessas, Martha Paisi, Nilufar Ahmed, Zoe Brookes, Robert Witton

Peninsula Dental School

Traditional approaches to dental public health education across Europe remain dominated by lecture-based learning which often fail to cultivate critical reflection on inequities, privilege, and the broader social determinants of oral health. Social accountability has been recognized as core competency for dental graduates, requiring dental professionals to align professional practice with the health needs of communities. Community-engaged education is a promising pedagogical model that situates learning within real-world contexts, fosters empathy, cultural competence, and advocacy skills, and strengthens professional identity formation. This paper discusses the Peninsula Dental School’s innovative model, which integrates community engagement, reflective practice, and interprofessional education within …

Public Priorities For The Post-War Reconstruction Of Ukraine’S Energy Sector., Olena Savchenko, Vasyl Zhelykh, Khrystyna Kozak, Omar Al-Hafith, Joao Alencastro, Olugbenga Oladinrin, Ademola Adebayo Akinbami

School of Art, Design and Architecture

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the large-scale destruction of many cities across the country. Although the war has not yet ended, there will come a time when the conflict concludes, and reconstruction efforts will begin. Global experiences show that the first step in preparing for post-war reconstruction is to assess the level of destruction. Additionally, it is essential to understand people’s needs and priorities. Otherwise, reconstruction activities may fail to address the existing challenges and actual needs of local communities. This study aims to explore post-war reconstruction priorities of Ukrainians, with special focus on the energy sector …

Patient-Reported Experience Measures For Person-Centred Care: A Survey For The Development And Psychometric Testing Of A Targeted Measure, The Epcc-14, Ryan Statton, Lena Rosenlund, James Close, Anna Dencker, Helen Lloyd

School of Psychology

Objectives This study aims to develop a robust, targeted measure of patient experiences of person-centred care (PCC), informed by the lived experiences of patients with chronic illness using the psychometric theory of Rasch measurement. Design The Rasch measurement model was used to analyse the psychometric functioning of 57 candidate items and select appropriate items for a targeted measure. Setting Participants were recruited from Prolific.com, having experience of both chronic or long-term illness and first-hand experience of primary or secondary care in the UK healthcare setting and completed a survey containing PCC items and descriptors of healthcare experience. Participants Data from …

Global, Regional, And National Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases And Risk Factors In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990-2023, Global Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases And Risks 2023 Collaborators, Benjamin A. Stark, Nicole K. Decleene, Emily C. Desai, Johnathan M. Hsu, Catherine O. Johnson, Laura Lara-Castor, Kate E. Legrand, Prof Bhoomadevi A, Mohammad Amin Aalipour, Hasan Aalruz, Bedru J. Abafita, Ukachukwu O. Abaraogu, Mohammad Abavisani, Nasir Abbas, Madineh Abbasi, Mohammadreza Abbasian, Hedayat Abbastabar, Abdallah H.A. Abd Al Magied, Samar Abd Elhafeez, Prof Ahmed Abdelalim, Omar M. Abdelfattah, Prof Reda Abdel-Hameed, Mahmoud Abdelnabi, Prof Wael M Abdel-Rahman, Parsa Abdi, Wakgari Mosisa Abdisa, Daba Abdissa, Arman Abdous, Mujahid Abdullah

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and are among the foremost causes of disability globally. CVD burden has continued to increase in most countries since 1990, with trends driven by changing exposures to harmful risk factors, population growth, and population aging. Objectives: We report estimates of global, national, and subnational CVD burden, including 18 subdiseases and 12 associated modifiable risk factors. We analyzed change in CVD burden from 1990 to 2023 and identified drivers of change including population growth, population aging, and risk factor exposure. Methods: The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study, a multinational …

Talking Sudep: Gaps, Confidence And Training Needs Among Spanish Epilepsy Professionals, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

Objective: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of epilepsy-related mortality, yetdiscussions about SUDEP in clinical settings remain inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the perspectives,practices, and barriers related to SUDEP counselling for epilepsy professionals in Spain.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of 17 Likert style questions was disseminated via the Spanish EpilepsySociety between September 2023 and February 2024 to epilepsy professionals in Spain using a nondiscriminatory exponential snowballing technique leading to non-probability sampling. The survey was a validated instrument previously employed in similar international studies. Questions revolved around SUDEPcommunication and counselling. Descriptive and comparative analyses were conducted.Results: …

Threshold Sites Of Encounter: Dialogic (Place) Making To Enable Cross-Cultural Community Development—Lessons From Tuti Island, Khartoum, Sudan, Ioana Popovici, Robert Brown

School of Art, Design and Architecture

This text explores a possibility for extending our thinking on enacting dialogical placemaking and its potential to contribute to cross-cultural exchange through co-joining making and place as threshold sites of encounter. Advancing our knowledge and practice of dialogical placemaking and cross-cultural interaction is significant owing to the increasing presence of cultural differences, and with it economic, environmental, and social disparities, in an ever-increasingly globalized world. To advance this intention, this text will, through qualitative research, critically reflect upon the experience of a postgraduate Design Studio project based around the regeneration of an urban community situated in Khartoum, Sudan. Preliminary conclusions …

The Effect Of Exercise On Dynamic Balance And Walking Endurance In Patients With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Connor Gibson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects 2-3 million people worldwide, with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) accounting for 75% of new cases. Exercise has been proposed to alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of exercise on dynamic balance and walking endurance in RRMS patients.

Methodology: A comprehensive PubMed search identified exercise interventions that specifically measured walking endurance via the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and dynamic balance through the timed up-and-go (TUG) test. Mean and standard deviation values at baseline and post-intervention were extracted for analysis. For subgroup comparisons, interventions were classified as either lower …

Assessing Cognitive Performance And Comfort Under Simulated Mri Noise And Its Association With Autistic Like Traits, Jasmin Woodhouse

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners produce noise levels between 65 and 130 decibels. This noise, alongside the broader sensory environment of the MRI, poses challenges for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Noise exposure has been shown to impair task performance, increase errors, and affect brain activity. ASD traits are associated with decreased sound tolerance, including hyperacusis, misophonia, and phonophobia. In ASD, noisy environments disrupt inferior frontal gyrus function, impairing task response and brain connectivity. Given this, it’s crucial to understand how these sensory challenges specifically affect ASD experience and performance during MRI procedures. This study assesses cognitive performance and …

A Generational Analysis Of Psychological Motivators Influencing Seafarer Retention, Perisah Tahanci

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Seafarer retention is a growing concern amid increasing global demand for skilled maritime officers. This study investigates the generational differences in psychological motivators influencing seafarer retention, where ‘psychological motivators’ encompass the cognitive factors, including mental and physical wellbeing, work-life balance, compensation, working conditions, and external factors, that shape retention intentions. A cross-sectional survey (n=214) combined quantitative and qualitative analyses to systematically assess how the perceived importance and experience of these factors vary across Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers.

The findings reveal that significant generational differences exist across most factors, particularly in work-life balance and mental wellbeing, in …

Examining The Correlation Between The Competing Values Framework And Other Scales Of Measure, Jesina Mistry

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Organisational culture is widely acknowledged as a critical determinant of performance and employee engagement, yet debates persist regarding how best to conceptualise and measure it. This study examines the construct validity of two widely used diagnostic tools: the Competing Values Framework (CVF) and the Organisational Culture Inventory (OCI). While the CVF has achieved broad application across sectors, questions remain regarding its empirical grounding and cross-cultural relevance. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, this research investigates the degree of convergence between CVF and OCI dimensions within a diverse UK-based sample spanning multiple industries and job levels. In addition, it incorporates three underexplored …

Quantification Of Trace Metal(Loids) In The River Seaton, Cornwall, Uk And The Influence Of The South Caradon Mine On Ecological Risk, Bjorn Piñol

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Freshwater quality is critical to the health of aquatic ecosystems and human water security, yet anthropogenic activities, such as historic mining, continue to degrade aquatic systems. While extensive research has examined metal contamination in major rivers like the River Tamar, smaller tributaries affected by legacy mining remain understudied. This study investigates trace metal contamination and its controlling factors in the River Seaton, Cornwall, a small river influenced by historic mining from the South Caradon Mine. Water samples collected from four study sites along the river gradient and a reference site at Siblyback Lake were subjected to ICP-MS analysis and physico-chemical …

Assessing Overtopping Hazard To The Dawlish Railway Line: Integrating Wave Propagation Models For Coastal Metocean Condition Analysis, Matthew R. Owen

The Plymouth Student Scientist

With rising sea levels and increasingly frequent and intense storms due to climate change, coastal communities and structures are at an increasing risk of overtopping occurring. This study investigates the coastal metocean conditions responsible for overtopping at coastal defences, using Delft3D to model these processes with Dawlish as the case study site. Wave propagation models were employed to simulate metocean conditions from December 2021 to March 2022 to compare inshore wave conditions, alongside water level and wind parameters, with observed overtopping data from the WireWall system installed on top of the seawall, next to the railway line. The results indicate …

From Sea To Shore: Wind-Driven Aerosolization Of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins In Qingdao, China, During The Winter Of 2019, Madeleine K. Martin

The Plymouth Student Scientist

In Qingdao, China, harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a known hazard to coastal communities. Aerosolization is a mechanism by which HAB toxins can be transported from the sea surface into the air when wind speeds exceed 5 m/s. Previous studies have analysed the composition of aerosolized marine biotoxins (AMBs) in the breathable air surrounding Qingdao, but the role of the onshore winds in transporting them there would benefit from further research. Ciguatoxin is one such AMB, and this study analyses the role of onshore winds in aerosolizing and transporting toxins inland from a ciguatoxin bloom in Aoshan Bay, Qingdao during …

Comparing The Effect Of Marine Aquarium Salts And Sodium Chloride On Vicia Faba Stress Response, Bethany Smerdon

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stressor limiting agricultural productivity. Many salt stress studies rely solely on sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions, despite not accurately representing natural saline conditions. This study investigated the stress response of Vicia faba to NaCl and marine aquarium salt (MAS) solutions to assess the impact of a more complex ionic composition on plant physiology. Plants were cultivated in a controlled greenhouse and treated with either NaCl, MAS, or rainwater (control) for up to 55 days. Growth parameters, water status, proline accumulation, chlorophyll content, and root nodule weight were measured to evaluate stress responses. The results indicate …

Assessing Jasmonic Acid Seed Priming In Brassica Napus: Impacts On Aphid Herbivory Resistance And Seedling Fitness Trade-Offs, Daisy Stradling

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a key phytohormone involved in plant defence, offering a potential sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides. While JA seed priming has been explored as a strategy to enhance herbivore resistance in certain plant families, its potential fitness trade-offs remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of JA seed priming on Brassica napus (oilseed rape), a key agricultural crop, focusing on seedling fitness and resistance to Brevicoryne brassicae (mealy cabbage aphid), a major agricultural pest. To assess potential fitness trade-offs, seeds were primed with 75 µM JA, and multiple seedling fitness parameters were measured. Germination monitoring …