Digital Commons Network^™

Modification Of Maxwell Model For Conductivity Prediction Of Carbon Nanotubes-Filled Polymer Composites With Tunneling Effect, Jue Zhu, Longyuan Li, Ningtao Zhu

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have garnered great attention in recent years due to their outstanding electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The incorporation of small amounts of CNTs in polymers can substantially improve the sensitivity of the polymer’s electrical conductivity. This paper presents a modified Maxwell model to evaluate the electrical conductivity of CNTs-filled polymer composites by introducing a transition zone to account for the tunneling effect. In this modified Maxwell model, the CNTs-filled polymer composite is modeled as a three-phase composite, consisting of a matrix (polymer), inclusions (CNTs), and a transition zone (tunneling zone). The effective electrical conductivity (EEC) of the …

Glaciers As A Secondary Source Of Anthropogenic Contaminants: An Emerging Socio-Environmental Challenge, Dylan Beard

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Glaciers provide vital ecosystem services, including water resources, habitat provision, and food and energy security. Once considered pristine, glaciers are now known to accumulate various contaminants, including fallout radionuclides (FRNs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which can pose risks to downstream communities when released through meltwater. This thesis examines the accumulation and potential release of contaminants from glacial environments, with a focus on cryoconite, a contaminant-rich material found on glacier surfaces.Primary data collection and laboratory analyses were conducted on cryoconite samples from the High Arctic and the Peruvian Andes to assess spatial variability in contaminant levels and chemical availability. Additionally, …

From Wells To Well-Being: Overcoming Challenges For Sustainability In Energy And Geosciences, Maria Angela Capello

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis explores and proposes solutions to critical gaps in the geosciences profession and the energy sector, summarizing and expanding upon 14 prior published works by the researcher. The gaps addressed are particular relevant to gender inclusion in oil and gas, communication of the value proposition of energy and geosciences to other disciplines, policy makers, and society at large, and how to expand geosciences positive impact in progressing the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The research methods utilized in the 14 selected prior published works include qualitative and quantitative research, namely: surveys, statistical analysis, literature review, archival research, focus …

Factors Affecting The Integration Of Dental Services Into Health And Social Care For People With Complex Needs, Afsha Musa, Joelle Booth, Hannah Wheat, Robert Witton, Martha Paisi

Peninsula Dental School

Background: People with complex social and medical needs require a high level of support and face multiple barriers in accessing health and social care services. With limited access to dental care, their high oral health needs go largely unaddressed. Integration of oral healthcare into primary care, alongside improved cross-sector working, has been advocated to bring together services across the system to achieve oral health equity. Aim: To explore the factors affecting integration of dental services into health and social care for people with complex needs. Methods: A qualitative research study was undertaken across two sites in the southwest of England, …

Testing An Intervention To Develop Resilience In Student Nurses And Embed A Strategy In Undergraduate Curricula, Claire Chick

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

BackgroundResilience is considered an umbrella term to encompass key factors including wellbeing, emotional intelligence, self-awareness and empathy. A growing body of literature concludes the necessity for resilience-enhancing interventions to be embedded in undergraduate curricula; it is not enough to simply assume that resilience and coping are an innate component of the student nurses’ journey.Aims and objectivesAims1. To identify if a novel action learning intervention is more effective in developing resilience in student nurses than current practice.2. To embed resilience education in undergraduate curricula to support students’ well-being.Objectives1. To compare the effectiveness of interventions with current practice2. To assess stakeholder engagement …

Do Food Planner Apps Enhance Responsible Food Consumption? The Impact Of Perceptual Antecedents And Moderating Effects On Usage Intention, Rajat Subhra Chatterjee, Irfan Hameed, Ranjan Chaudhuri, Demetris Vrontis, Sumana Chaudhuri, Sheshadri Chatterjee

Plymouth Business School

Purpose: A food planner app helps users to create meal plans and recipes to their preferences, dietary requirements and lifestyle needs. Many food planner apps also could assist with grocery lists, calorie tracking, food waste management and reminders to users. But there is less adoption of such apps. Limited studies examine reasons for non-adaptability, emphasizing the need for more research. This research addresses this gap by observing the effect of pertinent factors such as expectant outcome and openness to change on the extended technology acceptance model. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on theories and extant literature, a theoretical model was developed. The model …

Transient Lives: Trans & Non-Binary People’S Encounters With The Harms Of Work, Siggi Auerbach

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This ethnographic criminological research aimed to address several theoretical gaps in the existing literature surrounding trans people, vulnerability, and victimisation. The overarching objective of this study was to offer a revised account of the harms trans people encounter in relation to their work via a new theoretical framework which is informed by ultra-realist criminology, critical hate studies. The theoretical framework was informed by contemporary criminologies of the harms of work, as opposed to the harms the institution of work is argued to inflict upon intersectional aspects of the individual’s social identity. This thesis aimed to reconceptualise the harms trans workers …

The Idealised And The Profane Nun: The Image Of The Nun At The Fin-De-Siècle And Into The 1930s., Shannon Lewis

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This thesis examines the representation of nuns from the Fin-de-Siècle into the 1930s, in the popular medium of postcards, in art during the Modernist period, and throughout the early development of film. The thesis demonstrates how secularisation, rapid technological development, and political discourse during the selected era impacted the image of the nun. The images selected will be reviewed in the light of Christian iconography, highlighting how the nun is represented and understood as a cultural construct, rather than the reality of the nun. Imagery of nuns from this era seems to fall into two categories of idealisation and/or profanation …

The Role Of Sociocultural Factors In Saudi Consumers’ Attitudes Towards Social Media Advertising And Purchase Intentions Within The Clothing Industry, Lamis Aldawish

Plymouth Business School Theses

Social media advertising (SMA) significantly influences consumer purchase behaviour in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the fashion industry. However, Saudi consumers’ attitudes towards fashion advertisements on social media are shaped by sociocultural factors, given the country’s deep-rooted cultural and Islamic principles. With Saudi Vision 2030 driving societal changes and transforming the fashion industry, younger generations (under 45 years) are developing different attitudes compared to older generations (over 45 years). Although notable changes have occurred, existing literature lacks sufficient exploration of how sociocultural factors influence Saudi consumers’ attitudes towards social media advertising and their intentions to purchase clothing. Gaining insight into these …

Exploring University Students’ Reasons For Not Working While Studying: Implications For Employability, Carl Evans, Jonathan Lean

Plymouth Business School

The purpose of this paper is to examine the behaviours and perceptions of university students who do not work part-time while studying. A structured, online questionnaire was issued to Business Management students at a UK university. A total of 123 responses were received, of which 64 indicated that they were not working while studying. While non-working students were mindful of the importance of work to developing employability skills, greater importance was attached to their degree studies. Most work to date has focused on the motivations and behaviours of university students who undertake work while studying. Little work has been carried …

Development Of Welfare Assessment Strategies For Indonesian Zoos, Yonathan Yonathan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Animal welfare assessment is a core element of zoo management, helping zoos achieve positive welfare state for their animals. Welfare should be assessed regularly to evaluate, monitor, and improve the standards of care. The research on welfare assessment and its development process increased after the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) launched the 2023 Animal Welfare Goals, which include mandatory welfare assessment process for national and regional zoo associations. In Indonesia, many zoos don’t have their own welfare assessment and find it difficult to adapt generic tools due to variation in husbandry, resources, and facilities. This project aims to …

How Decontextualised Risk Information Affects Clinicians’ Understanding Of Risk And Uncertainty In Primary Care Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study Of Clinical Vignettes, Alex Burns, Elizabeth Shephard, Raff Calitri, Adrian Mercer, Edmund Jack, Mark Tarrant, Sarah Dean

School of Psychology

Background: Decontextualised risk information (DRI) is any information pertaining to diagnosis, which is introduced into a clinical consultation, or a diagnostic thought process, without being requested by the clinician. It can be risk scores, computerised warnings, or laboratory tests or diagnostic imaging requests ordered by other clinicians. It is an increasing, and yet under-researched phenomena in UK primary care. Aim: To investigate how GPs integrate DRI into their clinical decision making and how might they communicate this to patients. Design & setting: Clinical vignettes of cases that involve DRI, designed to increase the diagnostic uncertainty of the case, were presented …

Experiences And Understandings Of Multiculturalism In Mainstream Primary Schools In Southwest England, Suparna Bagchi

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

The present study is an exploration of teachers’, parents’ and students’ experiences and understandings of multiculturalism in four mainstream primary schools situated in a predominantly White location in Southwest England. It adopts qualitative methodology under a single case study design underpinned by a sociocultural theoretical framework. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews conducted virtually with adult participants, students’ classroom activities and field notes supplemented by photographs of classroom and corridor displays. Study findings suggest strong support among participants for incorporating multicultural components in school teaching and learning. Findings also suggest varying levels of accessibility, knowledge and availability of resources around …

“No One Told You Life Was Gonna Be This Way”: A Qualitative Exploration Of Friendship Expectations And Reality In University Life, Michael Priestley, Hannah Rachael Slack, Miss Madiha Islam, Delia Fuhrmann, Emily Long, Sarah Crook, Juliet Foster, Sophie Homer, Nicola Byrom

School of Psychology

Introduction: Young adulthood (ages 18–25) is a high-risk period for loneliness, particularly during educational transitions. Loneliness has negative consequences for mental health, physical health, and educational achievement. Psychologists conceptualize loneliness as emerging from a discrepancy between expected and experienced social connection, but this has been under-explored during young adulthood. Method: Drawing on thematic analysis of eight focus groups with 21 young adults in the UK, this paper explores the differences between retrospective expectations and experience of social connection during the transition into university and the implications for loneliness. Results: Whilst social expectations, experiences, and preferences vary considerably, young adults' perception …

Effects Of Cognitive Rehabilitation And Exercise On Brain Structure In Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Results From The Cogex Trial, Cogex Research Team, Francesco Romanò, Maria A. Rocca, Elisabetta Pagani, Maria Pia Amato, Giampaolo Brichetto, Jeremy Chataway, Nancy D. Chiaravalloti, Gary Cutter, Ulrik Dalgas, John Deluca, Rachel Farrell, Peter Feys, Jennifer Freeman, Matilde Inglese, Emilio Cipriano, Cecilia Meza, Robert W. Motl, Amber Salter, Brian M. Sandroff, Anthony Feinstein, Massimo Filippi

School of Health Professions

Background: We previously showed increased cortical grey matter (GM) volume in CogEx trial participants who performed cognitive rehabilitation (CR). Here, we explore combined CR and aerobic exercise (EX) effects on regional changes in brain volumes and white matter (WM) integrity. Methods: Seventy-three patients were randomized into four groups receiving a combination of CR and EX or their sham versions: CR + EX, CR + EX-sham, EX + CR-sham, and CR-sham + EX-sham. A diagnosis of progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) and impaired information processing speed were required for inclusion. Participants attended a 12-week intervention twice/week. Assessments were performed at baseline, week-12 …

Enhancing Brand Equity Through Branded Content Experience On Social Media: Developing And Testing A Moderated Mediation Model, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Adnan Waseem, Nauman Wajid, Irfan Irfan

Plymouth Business School

This study examined the relationship between branded content experience and brand equity by focusing on the mediating role of brand trust and the moderating role of consumer regret of interacting with branded content on social media. In testing the hypotheses proposed in this study, survey data were drawn from a sample of social media users and examined through structural equation modeling. The results indicate that branded content experience positively influences brand equity directly and indirectly via brand trust. In addition, moderated path analysis indicated that regret weakens the direct effect of branded content experience on brand trust and its indirect …

Dyscluded': Women's Experiences Of Mothering Autistic Children As Described In Their Stories', Juliet Hall

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

My research, grounded in feminist research practices, uses an auto/biographical approach to explore the experiential knowledge of women mothering autistic children. It arose from a yearning for discovery. I use women’s stories to increase understanding of this experience to disrupt deeply embedded discourses and to benefit others with shared experiences.

There is a substantial body of knowledge on the experience of parent’s raising autistic children, however this tends to focus on a specific aspect of their autism journey. It is often presented in a gender-blind way. Much of it fails to acknowledge the implications of sociocultural expectations on mothers and …

Written Evidence For Women And Equalities Committee Inquiry Into Female Entrepreneurship, Sarah Preedy

Plymouth Business School

No abstract provided.

More Than Just A Magic Trick? Exploring An Audience's Supernatural Attributions For Magicians' Performances, Paul J. Silvia, Sara J. Crasson, Gil Greengross, Gustav Kuhn

School of Psychology

Performing magicians have long believed that some audience members attribute their magical effects to supernatural methods—to their use of “real magic”. In two samples of adults (n = 412 and 292), we explored personality traits and broader beliefs that might predict supernatural attributions for performance magic. Supernatural attributions were uncommon—many respondents wholly rejected the possibility that magicians' magic was sometimes real—but nevertheless highly variable. In Study 1, a greater belief that magic tricks at least sometimes involve supernatural powers was associated with relatively higher extraversion, higher neuroticism, and lower openness to experience. In Study 2, random forests suggested that supernatural …

Autolyzed Brewer's Yeast Enhances Growth And Intestinal Health In Early Life Stages Of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus L.), Sheu Odu-Onikosi, Taofik Momoh, Ben Eynon, Nicola Pontefract, Victor Kuri, Holger Kühlwein, Daniel Merrifield

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The early life stages of fish are critical for determining the overall productivity and sustainability of aquaculture operations. This study investigated the effects of dietary autolyzed brewer's yeast (ABY) on the growth performance and intestinal health of Nile tilapia fry (Oreochromis niloticus). A 35-day feeding trial with 480 Nile tilapia fry across 12 experimental tanks tested the effects of diets supplemented with 1, 2, and 4 g/kg of ABY, with a control diet for comparison. The results indicated that the diet which had 1 g/kg ABY supplementation (ABY1) significantly enhanced the weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) while reducing …

Hydrological Repair And Invasive Grass Removal Restore Rhizophora Racemosa Mangrove Communities In West Africa, Claudia M Agraz Hernández, Ebénézer Houndjinou, Jordan E Reyes Castellanos, Carlos A. Chan Keb, Juan Osti Saénz1, Julio C. Chávez Barrera, Janique Etienne, Romain L Glèlè Kakaï, Robert Puschendorf

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Mangrove ecosystems face significant threats from climate change and human activities. In West Benin, the invasive grass Paspalum vaginatum disrupts sedimentation and hydrology, creating anoxic conditions and nutrient imbalances. To address this, we implemented a cost-effective restoration strategy focused on hydrological repair, engaging local communities to excavate 26 artificial channels and clear 19 existing ones, restoring tidal flow to 30 ha of degraded mangrove forest. Of this, 20 ha were planted with Rhizophora racemosa propagules, while 10 ha remained unplanted due to unsuitable micro-topographic conditions. This intervention, costing $1394.3 USD per hectare, adjusted sediment levels to match natural micro-topography, enabling …

The State Of Temperate Rainforest In South West England, Thomas Murphy, Katerina Chernyuk, Marcin Roszkowski, Shaun Lewin, Paul Lunt, James Buckley

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Temperate Rainforest is a biome of global significance which is rare and declining, yet supports endemic biodiversity and offers a range of co-benefits including carbon sequestration, natural flood management, climate moderation, and human well-being. The UK hosts a very large proportion of European bioclimatic space suitable for the development of Temperate Rainforest, yet very little of this woodland remains. In SW England, Temperate Rainforest habitat is mostly dominated by oak woodland (NVC communities W11 and W17) and occupies a broad but fragmented distribution across the region. SW temperate rainforest is exposed to a range of current and future threats and …

Exploring Barriers And Facilitators To Dietary Assessment And Advice In The Paediatric Population Attending Dental Clinics: A Scoping Review, Lauren Hallewell, Raul Bescos, Zoe Brookes, Robert Witton, Patricia Casas-Agustench

School of Health Professions

OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aimed to identify barriers and facilitators, from both dental clinic staff and caregivers, to effectively providing and implementing dietary assessment and advice (for both oral and/or systemic health) in dental clinics managing paediatric patients.

METHODS: A protocol was developed a priori (Open Science Framework- https://osf.io/bp4ts.) and followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies published in English from 1990 to December 2024 in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase and CINAHL databases were searched. Additional journal searches targeted articles on dietary assessment or advice in dental clinics treating paediatric patients (aged ≤ 18 years), exploring barriers and facilitators for caregivers and …

Sexual Communication Patterns Of Heterosexual-Identified Men Who Have Sex With Men, Travis R. Scheadler, Megan W. Rowe, Salem Rao, Oliver W.J. Beer, Tyrone J. Curtis, Sandra Kwan, Shih Ju Claire Lung, Adam Busch, Daniel Vandervoort, Paul A. Shuper, Andrew D. Eaton

School of Health Professions

The sexual communication patterns that comprise how heterosexual men with concordance between identity and behavior navigate their sexual encounters with women are well-established. Some heterosexual men experience discordance between their sexual identities and behaviors and may have unique practices of sexual communication, but this has not been studied. Knowledge of their sexual communication practices is an important step toward understanding and improving their sexual experiences. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 heterosexual-identified men who have sex with men to learn more about their sexual communication strategies. Three themes were identified through interpretative phenomenological analysis: meeting sex partners, clear communication …

The Wind In The Willows Effect: Does Age Affect Human Versus Animal Faux Pas Recognition?, Gray Atherton, Lucy Robinson, Lucie Guy-Smith, Liam Cross

School of Psychology

Children’s literature is rife with anthropomorphic or non-human characters that may be used as a scaffold to teach children about theory of mind (ToM) or the ways in which people think or feel about the social world. In this study, 107 typically developing U.K. school children in Years 1, 3, and 5 (5–10 years of age) completed a human and anthropomorphic ToM test that tested their understanding of faux pas. Specifically, children from these three age groups were given a human version of 20 faux pas stories and an identical animal version of the same stories 1 week apart (with …

Metaphors And Myths: Using The Board Game Dixit To Understand The Autistic Lived Experience, Gray Atherton, Emily Dawson, Liam Cross

School of Psychology

Autism is a condition that takes on many meanings, particularly to those with lived experience. Exploring these meanings is paramount to being able to improve the way that autistic people are treated in the wider world. To further examine autistic lived experience, a new form of qualitative analysis was developed in line with the growing trend of gamification, or creating a game-like condition for exploring different domains. In this paper, we present Dixit-elicitation, a form of qualitative inquiry that uses the popular board game Dixit to interview autistic people about their experiences living with the condition. Themes and subthemes relating …

A Preliminary Study On The Role Of Personal History Of Infectious And Parasitic Diseases On Self-Reported Health Across Countries, Gerit Pfuhl, Filipe Prazeres, Marta Kowal, Toivo Aavik, Beatriz Abad-Villaverde, Reza Afhami, Leonardo Aguilar, Grace Akello, Laith Al-Shawaf, Jan Antfolk, Chiemezie S. Atama, Derya Atamturk Duyar, Roberto Baiocco, Sercan Balım, Carlota Batres, Yakhlef Belkacem, Théo Besson, Adam Bode, Merve Boğa, Jordane Boudesseul, Mahmoud Boussena, Hamdaoui Brahim, Nana Burduli, Ali R. Can, Hakan Cetinkaya, Antonio Chirumbolo, Dimitri Chubinidze, Clément Cornec, Bojana M. Dinić, Seda Dural

School of Psychology

Objectives: Infectious diseases are often associated with decline in quality of life. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between personal history of communicable, i.e., infectious and parasitic diseases and self-rated health. Study design: Secondary analysis of a large dataset multi-country observational study. Methods: We used a four-pronged analysis approach to investigate whether personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases is related to self-reported health, measured with a single item. Results: Three of the four analyses found a small positive effect on self-reported health among those reporting a history of pathogen exposure. The meta-analysis found no support …

Mapping Cognition Across Lab And Daily Life Using Experience-Sampling, Louis Chitiz, Bronte Mckeown, Bridget Mulholland, Raven Star Wallace, Ian Goodall-Halliwell, Nerissa Siu Ping Ho, Delali Konu, Giulia Poerio, Jeffrey D. Wammes, Michael Milham, Arno Klein, Beth Jefferies, Robert Leech, Jonathan Smallwood

School of Psychology

The goal of psychological research is to understand behaviour in daily life. Although lab studies provide the control necessary to identify cognitive mechanisms behind behaviour, how these controlled situations generalise to activities in daily life remains unclear. Experience-sampling provides useful descriptions of cognition in the lab and real world and the current study examined how thought patterns generated by multidimensional experience-sampling (mDES) generalise across both contexts. We combined data from five published studies to generate a common ‘thought-space’ using data from the lab and daily life. This space represented data from both lab and daily life in an unbiased manner …

Measuring Variation In Gaze Following Across Communities, Ages, And Individuals: A Showcase Of Tango-Cc (Task For Assessing Individual Differences In Gaze Understanding-Open-Cross-Cultural), Julia Christin Prein, Florian M. Bednarski, Ardain Dzabatou, Michael C. Frank, Annette M.E. Henderson, Josefine Kalbitz, Patricia Kanngiesser, Dilara Keşşafoğlu, Bahar Köymen, Maira V. Manrique-Hernandez, Shirley Magazi, Lizbeth Mújica-Manrique, Julia Ohlendorf, Damilola Olaoba, Wesley R. Pieters, Sarah Pope-Caldwell, Umay Sen, Katie Slocombe, Robert Z. Sparks, Roman Stengelin, Jahnavi Sunderarajan, Kirsten Sutherland, Florence Tusiime, Wilson Vieira, Zhen Zhang, Yufei Zong, Daniel B.M. Haun, Manuel Bohn

School of Psychology

Cross-cultural studies are crucial for investigating the cultural variability and universality of cognitive developmental processes. However, cross-cultural assessment tools in cognition across languages and communities are limited. In this article, we describe a gaze-following task designed to measure basic social cognition across individuals, ages, and communities (the Task for Assessing iNdividual differences in Gaze understanding-Open-Cross-Cultural; TANGO-CC). The task was developed and psychometrically assessed in one cultural setting and, with input of local collaborators, adapted for cross-cultural data collection. Minimal language demands and the web-app implementation allow fast and easy contextual adaptations to each community. TANGO-CC captures individual- and community-level variation …

Nature Contact And Health Risk Behaviours: Results From An 18 Country Study, Leanne Martin, Mathew P. White, Sabine Pahl, Jon May

School of Psychology

Emerging evidence suggests that residential greenspace is associated with a lower prevalence of health risk behaviours, but it remains unclear whether these effects are generalizable across countries or different types of nature contact. Using representative cross-sectional samples from 18 countries/regions, we examined the associations between two types of nature contact (greenspace, nature visits), current smoking and everyday drinking. After controlling for a range of covariates, greenspace was inversely associated with current smoking and everyday drinking. Visiting natural spaces at least once a week was linked to a lower prevalence of current smoking, but unrelated to everyday drinking. Increasing residential greenspace …